The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-06-01
ASSERTS FRANK MORRISON IN SPEECH
AT SOUTHERN SOCIOLOGICAL CONGRESS
F. Of L. Official Declares
Recognize Collective Similarity
Philosophy of I. w. w. And Opponents OF Unionism
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, May 80

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, May 80.
In stirring address here be-
fore the Southern Sociological
Congress, Frank Morrison, sec-
retary Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, declared that no
element in our national life real
ICES the value of freedom and
democracy to greater extent
than does the organized labor
movement.
"These principles are the bed
rock upon which our structure
rests,' he said.
"Our movement is a continued
protest against autocracy, be it
political or industrial, and when
our government calls for support
in it's present hour, the organized
workers respond because they
are American citizens and be-
cause they must bc true to their
trade union principles.
1T should not be understood that
the unorganized wage worker, in fac
tory or office, is less patriotic than
members of trade unions. Assuming
these two elements are imbued with
the, same patriotic ideals, the organ
lied worker is of greater vale to his
country because of his ability to work
with others, his faculty for team
work. as it were. Our government
has realized this point, and in all
affairs affecting: the interest of wage
workers the government has consulted
with organized workers, and has an
pointed these workers on it's various
high commissions, committees and
boards.
while the trade union movement
is devoting every energy to patriotic
work, it believes that patriotism does
not consist entirely of repelling those
who would attack from the outside
our democratic form of government.
Rel1 Enemies of Democracy,
another opponent of real democ-
racy and sound citizenship is he who
would lower working standards and
be given a free hand in the employ
ment of women, the mothers of men.
and of children, our future men md
women.
On this subject representatives Of
the national and international unions
affiliated with the American Fedora
ton of Labor said:
The guarantee of human conser-
walton should be recognized in war
as we'll as in peace
"Th1s statement was made on March
~ of last year, when these trade
union officials, meeting in Washing
ton announced that while the trade
union movement abhorred war, it
was behind the government in this
hour of peril, come what may.
Will Maintain Standards.
THE government has indicated that
1t intends to maintain labor STAN
dards, and the Council of National
Defense has stated that before STAN
dards are reduced it should pass upon
the question, as it is better positioned.
with its survey of industry and of
military necessities, to consider the
question.
II believe labor's position is UNDER
stood and appreciated by sound think
ing citizens, who have noted that de-
spite calls for the abolition of labor
standards that the government has as
sisted during the past two months,
through mediation processes, in plac-
ing the northwest lumber industry
on the eight-hour basis. The ma
tion's packing industry went on a
basic eight-hour day this month,
through a decision by an arbiter Sc
lected by Secretary of Labor Wilson.
THE placing of these important in .
dustries on the shorter workday basis
indicate that our government accepts
the Investigations Of the British gov
ernment, which discovered, after
practical tests, that long hours is no