The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-02-22

World opportunities Dflhg "oilu
responsibilities and the manner in
which labor uses its opportunities in
this great war is going to give us
and the world the measure Of our
moral and mental worth and deter
mine the character of civilization for
decades hence.
War is ringing down the curtain
on the competitive era; it is thun-
dering the requiem of kings and ir-
power; it is revealing the
woe and waste and weakness of the
old order; it is lighting the pyre of
great stores of the worlds wealth;
it is piling giant hecatombs of
youth.
War is calling forth the construc
tive energies of the race to fill wars
destructive NAV. By strange con-
in the awful waste Of
human life, war is establishing new
and higher values on life; in the i'm
mense destruction of labor's prod
ucts, the vital importance Of labors
well-being as the source of produc-
ton, the foundation of society is
recognized. Let US not forget that
Armies are largely made up from
labor's ranks, are sustained wholly
by labor's efforts. Intelligently di-
rected, united effort is not more nee
essary in the trenches than in the
fields, mines and workshops. Obedi-
ence is the most striking character
istic of the soldier; thought should
distinguish the worker.
Labor is called upon to supply the
human material and the goods for
armies, but if it does not add some
thing more-itself, it's ideals-then
it stops with the sacrifie instead of
recording an achievement that would
stand an imperishable monument of
labOr's service to the race The
world is becoming dimly conscious of
its need of that council whose first
consideration is not the production
Of goods. but the welfare of the
worker; it must be fully Weakened to
the fact and its energies are or
ganized.
viii Lose Right to Lead.
The exploiter of labor has NAL
treated the worker, thwarted prog
ress, deformed civilization, involved
the world in a crisis. Labor must
avert the crisis and prevent a repe-
tition; its fate and the worlds hangs
in the balance. Labor will forfeit its
right to leadership, if it nurses a
crouch instead of using its opportu-
ntities to the uttermost.
Labor is the only class that has
shared its gains with the race; now
it claims reciprocity of service, an
equal opportunity to enjoy the re-
suits of progress, the full fruits of
individual effort, and that social en-
ergies be directed for humanity's
welfare instead of for the enrichment
of a class. To that end progressive
workingmen have long demanded a
voice in the control of industry, that
is for the protection of their inter
ests as individuals; they have de-
manded government ownership of
such social agencies as the railroads.
telephone and telegraph lines, such
industries as the packing houses and
our mills; such natural resources as
the coal mines, oil wells and timber.
War is rapidly bringing these
measures to pass. The railroads are
being operated by the government.
Garfield, fuel administrator. recon-
mends that the government take
over the coal mines as the only
method of averting a fuel famine.
The investigation of the packing
houses is revealing anew some Of the
causes Of the high cost of living.
Their operation by the government
along with the coal mines at an
early date is assured. We are gal
Looping through an economic revolu-
ton. 1t was prophesied via the bal
lot box, but it has come via the
sword through the necessities of war.
Workers Can Determine Method.
Shall the transfer from corporate
control to government control be
broadened and deepened into social
control, or having met the exigen-
cies Of the moment, shall the rail-
roads and the great industries revert
back to corporate control? Have
the workers an interest in that ques-
ton? If so, it behooves them to
unite to the end that the right solu-
ton shall be arrived at.
The government has interfered
with the immemorial right CD Of
the copper mine operators to dis
charge and blacklist men without