The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-11-29
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION
PLANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION

nomic changes in effect, your COM
mittee on reconstruction appointed
at the recent convention of the Cali
fornia State Federation of Labor
still feels that the line of march
should always lead forward, and
with that thought in mind the fol-
lowing suggestions are offered for
consideration and approval:
Decentralization Problems We
pledge to our returning soldiers full
cooperation in the proper readjust-
ment of industrial conditions to con-
form to the newly established world
democracy. To this end we welcome
and invite to our councils represent
atives of the returned soldiers and
sailors as soon as they are in po-
sition to take up matters of mutual
interest. In no other manner than
by such cooperation and by such
recognition of their complete COM
munity of interest with us can we
counteract obvious preparations to
exploit the soldiers of uniform to the
detriment of their brothers, the SOL
diers of industry. In no more effec-
tive manner than through the labor
unions themselves can the release of
the soldiers into civil life be accom-
plished without a disastrous depres-
sion Of wages.
Lock to Government
"We look to the federal govern
ment, under whose auspices and au-
thority our military and naval forces
were assembled, trained and sent
overseas, to plan carefully in the
work attendant upon the demobiliza-
tion of these great forces and the
effect thereof upon the nations in
dustries, to the end that panic shall
not prevail.
Organizing the UnOrganized-Inci-
dental to the disturbed conditions
following the ending of hostilities,
many of the workers will for the
time being be unmindful of the very
necessary work of organization. We
cannot too strongly urge the neces-
sity of carrying on this work with
greater energy than ever before. All
that has been accomplished in the
past was brought about through or
ganization and cooperative effort.
Practically all that is to be accom-
plished in the future will follow con-
structive organized effort.
Shorter WOrkday We demand
that standard workday of not more
than eight hours be established and
recognized in all industries where it
does not yet obtain, and we favor a
further reduction of the hours of
labor to minimize unemployment in
any industry where a surplus of idle
labor may exist, or where conditions
are such that even eight hours of
work tends to exhaust and devitalize
those employed.
Cooperative Organizations - With
the constant depreciation of the pur-
chasing power of the dollar the dis
bursement of the workers earning
has become a subject of their con-
cern second only in Importance to
that of wages received. The failure
of sporadic and Indifferent efforts
at cooperative organization should
not be permitted to outweigh the
great advantages inherent in coop
Grafton.
Urges Cooperative Plan
We therefore urge the establish
ment of cooperative organizations
for the distribution of commodities
and call attention to the fact that
the vast investment of wage work
ers in Liberty Bonds and War Saw
ings Stamps has placed in their
hands easily convertible securities
which can be made the basis of credit
in the formation of such cooperative
enterprises.
Land Taxati0n-We urge the adop-
tion of system of land values that
shall include supertax on all idle,
Continued on page two)