New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Presidents War Aims
Endorsed by Labor
A. F. of L. Executive Council Declares That
Peace Parleys Are Futile Until German Mill
tarists Are Vanquished-Asks Square Dear'
for Workers - Warns Against Profteers

militarists are convinced they cannot
superimpose their will on the rest of
the world. Force is the basis of their
whole organization and is the only
argument they will understand
Spontaneous uprisings in Germany
IN protest against the militarist govern
mcnt have shown that the German gov
ernment is still stronger than the
movement for German emancipation.
German freedom is ultimately the
problem of the German people, but the
defeat OF Prussian autocracy on the
battlefield will bring an opportunity
for German liberty at home
World Democracy Vital
I'VE have passed the period when any
one nation can maintain its freedom
irrespective of other nations. Civil
zation has closely linked nations to-
Sether by the ties OF commerce and
quick communication, common interests.
problems and purposes. The future Of
free nations will depend upon their
Joint ability to devise agencies for
dealing with their common affairs, so
that the greatest opportunity for life.
liberty and pursuit of happiness may
he assured to all.
This matter of world democracy is
Of vital interest to labor Labor is
not sect or party. 1t represents
the invincible desire for greater OPP
portunity of the masses of all nations.
Labor is the Drawn, sinews and brains
Of society. 1t is the user of tools
Tools, under the creative power of
muscle and brains, shape the materials
OF civilization. Labor makes possible
every great forward movement of the
world. But labor is inseparabe from
physical and spiritual life and prog
ress. Labor now makes it possible that
this titanic struggle for democratic
freedom can be made.
he common people everywhere are
hungry for wider opportunities to livu
lhey have shown the willingness TO
spend or be spent for an ideal. They
are IN this war for ideals. Those ideals
are best expressed by their chosen
representative in message delivered
TO the Congress of the United States
January 8, setting forth the programme
OF the worlds peace. President Will
son $ statement of war aims has been
unreservedly indorsed by British or
ganized labor. 1t is in absolute har-
mony with the fundamentals indorsed
by the Buffalo convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
I'VE are at war Cor those ideals. Our
first big casualty list has brought to
every home the harass and the sacri-
fees OF war This is only the begin
ming. A gigantic struggle lies lust
ahead that will test to the uttermost
the endurance and the ability and the
spirit OF our PEOPLE. That struggle
VIII be fought out in the mines, farms
and shops, mills, shipyards. as we'll a.
on the battlefield. Soldiers and sailors
are helpless if the producers do not
do their part. Every link in the chain
of the mobilization of the fighting force
and necessary supplies is indispens-
able to winning the war against mill
tarsm and principles of unfreedom.
Appeals to Workers. Loyalty
THE worker that fastens the riyets
IN building the ship is performing lust
as necessary var service to our Re-
public as the sailor who takes the ship
across or the gunner in the trenches
This Is a time when all workers
must soberly face the grave Importance
OF their daily work and decide indus
trial matters with a conscience mind
full of the world relations of each act
The problem of production indis-
pensable TO preventing unnecessary
slaughter of fellow men is suuarelv up
to all workers aye. to employees and
employers. Production depends upon
materials. tools, management and the
DEVELOPMENT and maintenance OF IN