Denver labor bulletin., 1918-04-06

The American declaration of war
against Germany is already one year
old.
In this twelfth month the whole
condition of the war has changed.
In especial the status of the allies
has altered and the purpose for which
the war must be prosecuted.
When Trotzky published the secret
treaties which he found in the archives
of the Russian government, the allies
were convicted of having agreed on
selfish division of territory in the
event of military success.
The allies are not now fighting for
territory They are fighting for de-
mocracy Three factors have made
for this change:
First-The Russian revolution.
Second-America's participation in
the war.
Third-The growing power of the
labor party in England.
1t is plain that the Russian revolu-
ton, the attempt to found democ-
racy in Russia, has made profound
change in the sentiments of all the
nations.
America for Democracy.
When President Wilson committed
America to the war, he announced
that our country would demand moth
ing in the way of compensation. Ours
was to be fight for democracy and
for the overthrow of German militar-
ism. This announcement was received
with a great deal of suspicion, which
was most pronounced among the So
cialists and radicals and found express
sion in the st. Louis declaration of
the socialist party. President Wilson,
however, has emphasized his policy
in every official declaration he has
since made.
Moreover, the President has set his
face strongly against the adoption OF
universal military training, in spite OF
all the capitalist interests.
At the time of our entry into the
war, the sorest point of all to Ameri-
cans was an alliance with Great Brit
ain, against which there has been {
natural inborn feeling on the part ot
native Americans which has been i'm,
bibed from our school textbooks. The
Revolutionary war will for years re
main the most cherished page il
American history. 1t is not the Brit
ish people, however, against which VIZ
cherish an i'll feeling, but the British
aristocracy, the lords, dukes anC
hereditary ruling class of England.
Then, too, America is full of Irish
and the attitude of the British gov
ernment toward Ireland is a sore pOin
with an American.
British Labor Will Bring Change.
Our i'll feeling toward England
however, will all be swept away with
the rise of the British labor party
which is sure to be party of grear
influence in England after the parlia
mentary elections are held.
The program of the British labor
party, little known as yet in this coun.
try, but sure to be discussed as it be.
comes known, constitutes one of the
most interesting documents in the his.
tory of the English people.
The one big fact at the present
moment is this:
Democracy, real democracy, is be
ginning to function in every one o.
the allied nations which are reall!
fighting, and when democracy func
tions thru the allied governments, ther
the war indeed becomes war by de
mocracy, of democracy, and for de
mocracy.
/ believe the time has come now il
this country when the socialists ant
radicals must change their attitud
toward the war or they will be charge,
with being ridiculous.
Surely the socialists of Americi
may join hands with the British labo
party, with the socialist party O
France and of Italy. England, France
Italy, America-these are the onl,
real powers fighting Germany, and OF
the shoulders of the people of thes
four countries lies the burden of win
ming or losing the fight for democ
racy.
l do not include Japan. Every rea
democrat must prefer that the Japa
nese should stay out of active partici