The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-06-21
THE EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL REPORT
TO THE A. F. OF L.


port of the Executive Councils report
to the convention of the American
Federation of Labor on the 10th of
this month in St. Paul:
"A crisis in world affairs has
been reached. The battle lines of
allies in France are menaced by the
forces that represent autocratic gov
eminent. Each day and hour of
the coming months will hold in a
Hateful balance the destiny of the
governments and the peoples repre-
senting the ideals which bring into
being and maintain governments di-
rected by the peoples themselves.
America was drawn into this
world war by the challenge of those
autocratic forces which enthrone
might as their chief aim. With
the growth of achievements of our
republic, this nation has stood as a
beacon light to all the oppressed
peoples of the earth. Our institu-
tions have radiated to the utmost
parts of the globe concepts of gov
eminent guided and maintained by
the will of its people. 1t is a
staggering thought to contemplate
world dominion of autocracy and
the destruction of opportunities we
now enjoy and for which we have
so valiantly commended AS a peo-
pie imbued with the highest ideals
of justice, the fact that the allied
armies have their backs to the wall
fighting the minions of autocracv,
makes the present moment assume
a ragged and dangerous front and
moves us to the solemn duty of
self-eXaminatiOn, to determine wheth-
AZ we are doing our full part.
"That grievous industrial wrongs
exist no one can deny. The agency
that has fought wrong, that has
lifted men and women up to high
er planes of life and work, that has
stood between the oppressed and the
oppressors. is the organized labor
movement. 1t h as accomplished
this constructive remedial work
through organized economic pow
err
use of our economic power has
been tempered with such warmth of
idealism that we have won the re-
spcct and confidence of those in
places of responsibility and author
ity The present administration,
Under the leadership of President
Wilson, who has interpreted by
word and act the spirit of democ-
racy and humanity in a way that
has made him the spokesman for
world democracy, has recognized that
only through labor has it been pos
sible to fight this world war. The
government has entered into con-
tracts with organized labor and has
provided agencies for dealing with
problems that arise in production in
which the government and workers
are partners.
Continuous, full power produc-
ton depends upon the morale of the
workers; that, in turn, is dependent
upon sense of justice.
"The workers in war production
are practically a part of the fight
ing force. the army and navy. They
can not stop work without interfer-
ing with the whole program. The
whole campaign from production to
where munitions are used in the
field must be so precise, so well
articulated, that nothing shall inter
fere with any forward movement, if
we are to check and defeat the best
organized war machine the world
has ever seen. No action should be
taken in the shops or on the field
not in harmony with the purposes
of the war.
"Organized labor, susceptible to
every impulsee and stimulus of right,
must recognize in its impartial and
exacting judgment that the hour has
struck for it to emphasize and de-
clare its purpose and attitude anew
and to help meet the overpowering
force of circumstances and necessi-
ties which confront our nation.
"Organized labor, true to its tradi-
tons, has proffered its full and COM
eddy behind you in the supreme task
of winning the war. and firmly he