El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-28

FOR ITS RIGHTS
Democracy Must Triumph
Over Autocracy, Says
James Wilson.
By JAMES WILSON.
Chairman Of the Labor Section OF the
American War DeieEutiOn.)

I Chairman Of the Labor Section Of the
American War DeieEutiOn.)
washington, D. C., June 2S.-In com
: pauy with my colleagues I have seen
/ in my six weeks tour the shipyards
and the factories Of our great ally,
I Britain. / have been amongst the
battle ruins Of France. and have seen
/ and chatted with the soldiers Of the
] British and French armies And ]
return TO America in good heart
don't believe in effervescent op-
timistic eyewash- We Of the labor
movement in America are accustomed
Z TO look realities right in the face, and
Z to act accordingly. And after all
! have seen and heard during this Won
derful tour. I am satisfied that Ger
many has got 10 be and is going 10
be beaten
Behind the spectacular side Of this
war there is being waged a conflict
which means much TO the workers Of
all nations Autocracy and Democracy
are at deaths grips
studied Labor Movement.
One must conquer and one must die
The democracies Of the allied cOun-
tries realize what this struggle means
and when the working classes Of the
central powers realize 10 also they VIII
be glad 70 see the victory on our side.
I have had opportunities Of study
ing the labor movement In Britain and
have come 10 a definite conclusion
which I propose to report TO the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor and through
that body 10 the convention.
Ny conclusion is that the labor
movement in Great Britain which We
in America understand 10 be the
trades union movement composed en-
# la ~nsa mill mine nuT
factory, are doing everything they can
TO assist their government Ia the sue
cessfuI prosecution OF the war.
All true trades uuionists have rec
oEuized that 10 maintain their lber-
ties BerIin's power must be destroyed.
To compromise with IL means only q
cessation Of hostiities with q con-
tinued growth Of militarism as nat
ural consequence Of that compromise
Must Be No Compromise.
this struggle; IL must be fight to
There must be no compromise in
a finish, with victory 10 one side
and defeat TO the other.
Therefore trades uniOnists must be
loyal TO themselves and their class and
fight on until victory which means SO
much is gained
The issue must be determined now.
so that the future peace OF the world
may be secured for all time.
II would not be possible TO study Ia
Dor conditions in Britain without not
ing one feature, which IS not a healthy
one, for the labor movement
There are in Great Britain a class Of
politicians who set themselves up as
the leaders Of labor who, so far as my
observation goes. are not as q general
rule working men themselves. and
who are seeking their own political
advancement without giving due re-
gard 10 the big issue involved in this
war.
Free From Eneroaehment.
Fortunately ia America we are free
from this impudent eucroachment Of
politicians upon our labor ovemenI be-
cause we have always taken a position I
that We would be partisan 10 princi- I
pie and not partisan 10 q political I
party
do not. Of course. presume to tell I
the leaders of the LABOR movement IN I
Britain the line Of policy they ought 7
to adopt. Such an action on my part
would be very properly resented
But I trust I may be permitted to I
state what is the policy Of the Ameri- I
can Federation of Labor without Civ
ing offence
am convinced, and my colleagues Z
in America viii agree with me, THAI
no trade union movement can meet
with success and have proper degree
OF harmony and sinEleness Of purpose
that permits other than the workers ]
themselves TO be their official repre- Z
sentatires and spokesmen.
As 10 the demOcracies Of the cen
tral powers I would say one word II
cannot be forgotten that by a unani- I
nous vote OF the labor convention at ]
Buffalo IL was decided that no Amer |
lean representative Of labor would at
TEND any conference at which were (
present delegates representing any Of 4
the enemy countries
There viii be no going back on that 7
Peace VIII Open Doors.
But while the door against the 4
working classe Of those countries is I
closed, i is not locked and barred Z
Peace viii open IL, and then we shall .
be the first TO extend the hand Of fra /
ternity TO our fellow workers in Ger ]
many.
After nearly four years Of war, with I
tremendous sacrifice and suffering in /
Great Britain it is impressive and in I
spring TO see the wonderful spirit OF /
confidence displayed by the great I
mass Of the people.
am satisfied that this spirit viii /
be maintained TO the end, and that I
with all the forces or the allied gov. I
eminent cOordinated and the work I
pushed forward as is now being done
recognizing that there perhaps may /
have been mistakes and that there /
viii be mistakes in the future-We
may look forward with confidence to Z
the cause Of the allies prevailing, with I
the liberties OF the world and the right I
Of the people 20 determine for them
selves how they shall live secured for
all time.
It VIII be the greatest victory in f.
history-the triumph Of democracy I
over autocrac y.-By The International I
News Bureau, Inc, Boston, Mass.
Mountain Park cherry pie Saturday Z
for dessert at the University Club. l