South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-18


aims as stated by PRIEST Wilson and
recognition that the war against
] Prussianism Is a working mans war
| is recorded In a declaration issued
Sunday night by the executive
council OF the convention OF the
American Federation OF Labor at
the close OF seven day session at
headquarters here
The declaration says the peace
parleys between Russia and Ger
many have shown the futility OF
diplomatic negotiations until the
German militarists are convinced
they cannot superimpose their will
on the rest Of the world and that
! spo ataneous uprisings in Germany
ha, demonstrated that the militar-
ist government is still stronger than
the movement there for the eman-
cipation
A gigantic struggle lies ahead
and now is a time when all work
ers must soberly face the grave i'm
pOrtance OF their daily work. says
the declaration and il adds:
Give workers decent place 20
I
tions 20 take all their wages for
bare existence. give them wages
whereby grievances can be adult
ed and industrial Juice assured.
make it plain that their labor
counts in tie winning war for
l greater freedOm-not for private
poiteering ard workers can conf
IDENTIFY be expected 10 do their part.
Workers are loyal They want TO
do their share for the republic and
I for winning the war"
Text OF Declaration.
Following is the text Of the dec
laration:
we are face TO face with a world
/ struggle. We are in a world strug-
gle whcih will determine for the
/ immediate future whether prin-
ciples OF democratic freedom or
principles OF force shall dominate.
The decision will determine not
the destiny Of nations, but of ev-
cry community and of every indi-
viduaL No life will be untouched.
Either the principles of free
democracy or Of Prussian militaris-
tic autocracy will prevail There can
be no compromises. So there can be
no neutrality among nations or in
| diyiduals: we must stand up, and
be counted with one cause or the
other For labor there is but one
choice
THE hope Of labor lies in OPP
portunity from freedom The work
| ers of America will not permit them
| selves 20 be deceived or deceive
/ themselves into thinking the fate
Of the war will not vitality change
our own lives. A victory for Ger
many would mean a pan-German
empire dominating Europe and eX-
ercising a world balance Of power
/ which Germany viii seek 10 extend
by force into world control.
Prussian Rule il Unfreedom.
"Prussian rule means supervision.
I checks. unfreedom in every rela-
/ tion Of life.
"Prussianism has its roots in the
| old ideal under which men sought
/ la rule by suppressing the minds
and wills Of their fellows: it
4 blghts their ideal of government.
without force or chains-political or
\ Industrial protected Sy perfect
/ freedom for all
Unless the reconstruction shall
soon come from the German work
ers within that country il is now
plain that an opportunity TO uproot
the agencies of force will come only
when democracy has defeated au-
tOcracy i'm the military field and
wins the right 10 reconstruct rela-
tiOns between nations and man. The
peace parleys between Russia and
Germany have shown the futility of
I diplomacy until Prussian militarists
are convinced they cannot super
impose their will on the rest Of the
world Force is the basis of their
whole organization and is the only
argument they will understand
Problem of German People.
Spontaneous uprisings i'm Ger
many i'm protest against the mill
tarist government have shown that
I the German government is still
stronger than the movement for
German emancipation German
/ freedom is ultimately the problem
OF the German people. But the de-
feat of PrusSian au:ocracy on the
battle field will bring an oppOrtu-
nifty for German liberty al home.
we have passed the period when
any one nation can maintain SIS
freedom irrespectively Of other ma
tions. civilization has closely link
ed nations together by the ties Of
commerce and quick communica-
ton. common interests, problems
and purposes. The future OF free
nations Will depend upon their
joint ability 10 devise agencies for
dealing with their common affairs
SO that the greatest opportunity for
lie liberty and pursuit of happi-
ness may be assured 20 all.
This matter Of world democracy
is of vital interest TO labor. Labor
is not a sect or a party. II repre-
sent~ the invinclble desire for great
or opportunity Of the masses Of all
nations. labor is the Drawn. sinews
and brains OF society. II is the
use, Of tools Tools under the cre-
alive power of muscle and brain
shane the materials OF civilization