Denver labor bulletin., 1918-08-10

cation, conscious of their strength and
its limitations, realizing their duty to
our country and to themselves, the
unions Of labor have become the most
potent factors in the nation.
With the entrance of the United
States into the war, it became neces-
sary to utilize and coordinate every
instrumentality in our national life.
Individualism is being swallowed up
by the necessity for unity in action.
Forces in society formerly economi-
cally hostile are drawn into the vor-
tex of necessity and compelled to con-
template the attitude of each other
at close range and determine the ba-
sis upon which harmonious co-opera-
tion can be established. The radical
constructive ability Of the trade unions
has been translated into concrete re-
suits, as indicated by the recognition
of government and employers of the
potency and effectiveness of organ
lied cooperation.
Democratic Control of Industry.
Our nation in order that it's mate
rial resources and the spirit OF its
people may be modified to make a
supreme effort, is becoming conscious
that the preservation and extension
Of democratic control of political af-
the establishment of democratic con-
troll of industry. The philosophy and
policy of the trade unions in meeting
the great crisis into which we have
been drawn are fully justified, and
the prophetic wisdom of the. found
ers of our movement vindicated and
appreciated. Today the influence,
power and effectiveness of our eco
nomic organizations completely over
shadow and overwhelm any theoreti-
cal partisan political dogma. The
process of concentrating all our
forces to the attainment of a specific
result, necessitates the adoption of a
comprehensive economic program,
with political ideas as an incident
thereto. Therefore the needs of the
hour afford striking opportunity for
the organization of labor to carry out
their constructively radical program.
The Reconstruction Period.
With a confidence born of expert
ence, the men and women of labor
face the future with the assurance
that when the war shall have been
concluded our unions will occupy a
position in society which will assure
them the admitted right to larger
part in determining the manner in
which industry shall be conducted.
Altho not yet granted the full con-
fidence to which they are entitled, our
organizations will not retrace any step
forward which has been taken, but,
on the contrary, a further advance
toward larger control of our nations
economic affairs cannot be prevented
/ with corresponding influence in our
political affairs. With confidence en-
gendered as the result of achieve
ments thru organized effort, we shall
enter the reconstruction period fol-
lowing the war with he means at our
command to determine the relation
ships which shall exist between en-
ployer and employe and between gov
eminent and the employe.
Every trade unionist views with
qualification the success which has at
tended long and persistent efforts to
establish our unions and co-relate
their influence that all Of the wage
earners have become integral factors
in the life of the nation. That we
have been justified in the course pur-
sued is fully demonstrated by our
work. Constructive radicalism is best
exemplified in the unions of labor.