The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-11-15
OHIO STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR
ADOPTS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM
FOR AFTER-WAR RECONSTRUCTION
Convention Recently Adjourned After Four Hours Debate
Unanimously Adopted the Reconstruction War
Program Printed Below

The Ohio State Federation of La
Dor is today composed of nearl!
1000 affiliated local unions embrac
ing every branch of industry and al
conservative estimate the state
body represents the interests of fully
a million people.
To our knowledge it is the first
substantial body that has made ar
attempt, without diverting the at
tention of the public from necessary
war work, to arouse the people to
an understanding of the fact that
they must exercise intelligence, vigi-
lance and an aggressive spirit if
they would prevent untold suffering
as result of industrial and eco
nomic dislocation when the war ends,
a probability that is dreaded by
thoughtful citizens in every walk
of life.
The Ohio Reconstruction Pro-
gram IOllOWS:
Resolution
We, delegates of the Ohio State
Federation of Labor, in convention
assembled, in Columbus, October Ia
19, 1918, hereby adopt the following
program of reconstruction for the
coming postwar period and respect
fully commend it to the earnest con-
sideration of the people of Ohio and
the nation.
We hold that the great war into
which this country has been drawn
has aroused the social consciousness
of our citizenship in a manner un-
precedented in the worlds history,
not merely in the restricted sense of
waging the war to successful con-
clusion, but in the development of
a broad spirit of service for the
common good-in fine, to make the
United States and all other nations
of the earth safe for democracy, in
dustrial and economic as we'll as DO
litical democracy.
In view Of the enormous in
debtedness that has been incurred
in the struggle to free the world
from political class rule and privi-
lege, we urge the freeing of all ma
tural resources to the end that pro-
duction of wealth may be accelerat-
ed and all public financial obliga-
tions may be cancelled as speedily
as possible.
We declare that during demob-
ilization and subsequently thereto
no involuntary idleness should exist
in this country, and that all avenues
for useful service should be thrown
open to the people in order that
and it's concomitant evils
may be abolished for all time.
We maintain that the existence of
idle land and idle labor, where the
means of subsistence are inadequate
to supply the proper needs of So
ciety, constitute a travesty on in
telligence and common sense, and
in order that such a strange paradox
shall no longer exist in a civilized
community, we insist that it is the
dTty of our government, national,
state and local, to take immediate
steps to democratize the land, 1)
by taxing for public purposes the
speculative values of land and (2)
by the gradual reclamation of arid
and swamp areas, such lands to re-
main public property forever, but
to be leased for 10-year periods to
citizens who engage in useful pro-
lction at not to exceed per cent
rental per annum of such valua-
tion with the privilege Of renewal.
We strongly urge graduated tax
on all incomes of individuals up to
20 per cent, on amounts aggregating
10000. per annum or over, and the
'rplication of similar just ratio
on the net incomes of all corpora
5'cns in excess of 6 per cent.
We favor the retention by the
United States government of the
.ailway, telegraph and telephone
'ystems now under federal control
'd their extension wherever nee
y 'ary, the former owners to be re-
''hursed for those utilities at their
r ue physical value when such prop
rites We're acquired from the prof
is that accrue within a period of
.wenty years and without the pay
''ent of further rentals, interests or
,rofits.
We favor the government owner '
hip and operation of our merchant
marine on the oceans, the lakes and /
lavigable fivers. and the acquiring