Denver labor bulletin., 1918-05-04
IN. Y. Tribune Gable Service.)
Reprinted by Permission.


of the Huns is being understood by
the working people of all the allied
nations now as never before, and is
bringing the working people of those
nations together in such common un-
and determination as they
have not had since America entered
the war.
This the American trade union mis-
sion now in Great Britain is finding
out with more surety as the days
pass. If the peace by conciliation"
idea, with its "co-belligerent confer
ence" forerunner has entirely lost its
footing, it also has surely lost all its
menacing possibilities, and no longer
constitutes a danger of even the re-
motest kind.
Its most ardent proponents plainly
are fighting a rearguard action and
evidently are on the way to complete
abandonment of their ill-sponsored
child.
Haze Is Fading Away.
Organized labor in the allied ma
tions is more closely united in
thought, policy and spirit than since
Americas belligerency began, and
this unity promises to develop rapidly
and be firmly forever cemented before
the American trade unionists take
ships for home.
1t becomes more apparent as the
time passes that there has been much
Misunderstanding, due almost wholly
TO what appears to have been cam
paign Of studied Misrepresentation
Of both the British and the American
workers 20 each other.
The American delegation so far has
met and conferred with each impor-
tant national division Of British labor
movements. 1t has met with the
parliamentary committee Of the Brit
ish Trade Union Congress, which cor
responds in a large measure to the
executive council of the American
Federation of Labor. Il has met the
executive committee OF the General
Federation of Trade Unions, the pure
ly trade union organization of which
w. a. Appleton is secretary. 1t has
met the representative of the labor
party delegation in the house of COM
mons.
In Accord With Wilson.
Not in any of these groups has the
American delegation been able to find
the slightest trace OF willingness to
consider peace with Germany before
the aims of democracy have been real
lied.
The leaders of every one of these
groups have expressed complete ac-
cord with the war aims laid down by
President Wilson and agreed to by the
American labor movement Thus, on
the question of war aims, which is the
all-important question, allied labor is
united firmly and steadfastly.
The American pacifists have been
L,
themselves with the idea that there is
gram in the British labor movement
This has been found to be absolutely
untrue by the American trade union
lists now here, and the investigation
has been searching.
There seems little doubt that Ger
man agents fostered the proposition
for a co-belligerent conference, for
what purpose remains to be seen, but
all too evidently TO drive wedge be-
tween the workers and the govern
ments of the allies while seeking to
lead the allied workers to believe n
wedge was being driven between the
Teutonic workers and their govern
ments.
Treachery of the Huns.
Again Prussian trcachery has failed
The assault on the Western front has
revealed the fullneSs of that treach-
cry. There is no questioning the hon
esty of the leaders of Great Britain,
who have propagated the conference
idea. OF these Arthur Henderson is
not holding to the ground which he
was represented in America as oc-
cupying. He will not go further now
than to say:
n
we are not willing 70 negotiate"
His position is that negotiations
can only be conducted by the govern
ment of n democracy. The confer
ences with the Americans concerning
this and other questions of policy
will begin April %, informal discus
sions already having taken place. But
the American position is official, stead
fast and. infexible. There can be
agreement only upon the basis of alb
solute refusal to even have discus
sion with representatives from the cen
trail empires while the war lasts.
Unite on Essential Points.
However these conferences may re-
suit, it is certain already that the
labor movements of the two English
speaking nations are a unit on every
essential point in the program of war
aims and that no wedge can be driven
between them or between them and
their governments,
As Alexander Wilkie of the great
union. phrased it, THE
war is paramount so also declare
Henderson and his co-workers.
"Not one of us is for German
peace" said Henderson in an address
in the presence of the American dele
cation. and he said it with great force.
Not only has the situation almost re-
solved itself in the political arena of
labor. but on the industrial field there
is marked change within the past