The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-06-14

alyzed industry, labor and COM
merce, has killed economic activity
at its source. She has seized the
raw materials and taken them to
Germany-the wool, textiles, flax,
leather, machines, parts of machines
and machine tools, copper, lubricat-
ing oils and driving belts, etc. And
all this time the Governor General
has been assuring them that it was
his sincere intention to work for
revival of economic life in Bel
GUM
Agricultural activity has been as
badly crippled through the requisi-
,ioning of most of the horses and
cattle. So Germany has created
compulsory unemployment" in Bel
GUM. In addition to this, Germany
levied a permanent war contribution
on the Belgian provinces of 49,
100000 francs a month. beginning
IN December, 1914, and increased
4i A"A", W cO,VVV,uuu anu III lJlI
to 60,000,000 francs month. To
meet this terrific situation and the
feeding of the compulsory unem-
ployed" was beyond this sorrow
laden people, and when the Commits
sion for. Relief in Belgium, admin
istered by Americans. financed by
voluntary contributions from various
countries began its activities, the
raids began. When the starving
men and women of Belgium refused
to enter the war industries set up
by Germany, the cattle-trucks began
to render service and the slave raids
put under way. Destroying indus
try in every conceivable way, Ger
many forces the victims into slav-
cry for being unemployed.
One novel phase of Germany's pol
icy of dealing with unemployment"
was the establishing of a financial
plan which caused the accumulation
and unemployment" of money in
the Belgian banks. Then, claim
ing that it was against the coun-
try's interest to keep idle money,
it decreed the compulsory invest
ment of these funds in Germany.
An American diplomat in the Far
East asked German commander
in the Turkish army if he thought
there would be enough food in Tur-
key for the population and the army
(winter, 1915-16). The answer was
There is enough food for the army.
the population can die. We hope
they will die. We will make Tur-
key one of the splendid, modern, eff
ficient States of the world"
Typically, scientifically German.
OF all things that might be charg-
ed to Belgian, that of laziness
would be the most unreasonable
Belgium is the most densely popu-
lated country in the world. The
workers of Belgium have a world
wide reputation for being intensely
industrious. The Belgian coal miner
Is the miner in Europe who does the
hardest days work. Under the
most trying and adverse conditions
the Belgian workers have reared a
cooperative movement that is the
admiration of the world of labor.
The dishonesty and Unborn bes-
tally of the German government ap-
pals the mind and sickens the heart.
What contrast to the idealism
ana lofty courage of Belgium. Did
she, when she saw the monstrous
German beast of war approaching,
say I'VE are poor little people.
Spare US and we will let you 90
through" She did not. She met
the acid test. She made the su-
preme sacrifice. She did some
thing that Germany is not able to
understand. By herself devoured
she stayed the beast from devourine
us.
We will not forget. 1t is our task
to help to teach numbering, raping
GERMANY that thara &c sor,o n,.I