The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
Declaration Issued by Exec utive Council of Fedora
 tion After Session
IGIGANTIC STRUGGLE AHEAD AND SAFETY IS IN VICTORY ONLY
Workers Are Loyal and Want to Do Their Share in Winning for Democ-
 racy and Freedom

Washington, February IF. American labor's indorsement of war aims as stated by Presi- dent Wilson and recognition that the war against Prussian- ism is workingman's war, is recorded in declaration issued tonight by the executive council of the American Federation of Labor at the close of a seven- day session at headquarters here.
 The declaration says the peace par leys between Russia and Germany have shown the futility of diplomatic negotiations until the German mili- tarists are convinced they cannot supelimpose their will on the rest of the world, and that spontaneous up- risings in Germany have demon strated that the militarist government still is stronger than the movement there for emancipation.
 A gigantic struggle lies ahead, and now is a time when all workers must sober]y face the grave importance of ther daily work, says the declaration. hicl. adds:
 sGive workers decent place to live. protect them against conditions to take all their wages for bare existence. give them agencies whereby grievances can ne adjusted and industrial justice as- sured. make 1t plain that their labor counts in the, winning of war for greater freedom. not for private profit- eering, and workers can confidently be expected to do their part. Workers are loyal. The, want to do their share for the republic and for winning the war"
 TEXT OF DECLARATION
 Following Is the text of the declara- ton:
 we are face to face with world crisis We are in a world struggle which will determine for the immediate future whether principles of democracy and freedom or principles of force shall dominate The decision will determine not only the destiny of nations, but of every community and of every individ- ual No life will be untouched.
 "Either the principles of free democ- racy or of Prussian militaristic autoc- racy will prevail. There can be no com promises. So there can be no neutrality among nations or individuals. We must stand up and be counted with one cause or the other. For labor there is but one cho.ce
 "The hope of labor lies in opportunity for freedom. The workers of America will not permit themselves to be deceived or deceive themselves into thinking the fate of the war will not vitally change our own lives. A victory for Germany would mean pan-Gcrman empire domi- hating of Europe and exercising world balance of power which Germany will seek to extend by force into world con- trol
 "Prussian rule means supervision, checks, unfreedom in every relation Of life.
 ROOTS OF PRUSSIANISM
 "Prusslanism has it's roots in the old ideal under which men sought to rule by suppressing the minds and wills of their fellows; 1t blights the new ideal of goy- ernment without force of chains-politi- cal or industrial-protected by perfect freedom for all.
 Unless the reconstruction shall soon come from the German workers within that country, 1t is now plain that an op- portunity to uproot the agencies of force will come only when democracy has de- feated autocracy in the military field and wins the right to reconstruct rela- tions between nations and men. The peace parleys between Russia and Ger (Centinued on Page Two)