The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-02-15

be achieved by uttering a half formed
wish. Our experience here teaches us
better than that. The colonies had
to gxEAQasther in the United States
They hated to- do it: they wrestled
long and angrily. the little states fear
ing TO lose their standing, the larger
states fearing to lessen theirs. But
they had to get together, so they did.
-. Tracking the Job.
Thb world state is even more diff
cult to assemble. The territorial
problems alone are tremendous. The
powers have not the common Ian.
guage and common background of the
American colonies. They have higher
rivalries and more intense compete
ton to reconcile than our infant COL
onies without manufacture or trade.
It's a job sure enough, but they are
tackling 1t with q spirit and zeal that
Is surprising and commendable.
Mankind never goes all at once to
the. full consequence of its beliefs.
The world is yeady at least to adopt
the principle. Just so the United
States agreed to the principle that all
men were free and equal. though s1av-
cry was not abolished for another 80
years and full equality of opportunity
is not attained even now for millions
Of our inhabitants.
Growth of Cooperation.
The growth Of society is the growth
of cooperation. The world is getting
away from intense individualism.
Those who are standing against inter-
national cooperation are standing
against the very trend Of commercial
life, the trend of labor organizations,
the trend of the centuries. It is i'm
portant for the safety and the happi-
ness Of the world that our world
structures and world institutions be
built and shaped to conform with the
new concepts Of social. political and
economic order.
This thought is in line with the ex-
pressed declarations of the labor
movements Of the world. The work
ing people everywhere are against
war. Laborers are builders; they do
not wreck structure unless they are
quite certain they can build a better
one in its place. Their minds work
and their hearts beat in perfect har-
mony with the buzz Of their saws and
the hum Of their hammers. They see
in League Of Nations an agency that
will not only prevent war but will
serve to remove the causes of wars.
They see in it the establishment of a
world institution that will provide the
machinery that will relate politics to
the life and we'll being of the great
masses Of the people.
Opportunity for Freedom.
They are keenly conscious of the
fact that institutions and regulations
alone are not sufficient. These are
only the agencies. :. AS Mr. Gompers
says: Back of them must be an in
ternational mind and conscience edu-
Gated to demand the Standardization
and humanization of our common af-
fairs" The working people. Of all
will for peace and justice. and their
countries have contributed much to the
representatives at Paris are now play
ing no small part in shaping the agen-
cies by and through which their will
can be expressed.
Labor has right along taken a de-
voted interest in the establish ment Of
the League Of Nations. The American
Federation of Labor, almost five
months before we severed relations
with Germany, declared for a ''volun-
tary union of states. a league for peace
to adjust disputes and difficulties, and
to take the initiative in constructive
efforts to direct and facilitate world
progress in accord with highest con-
cepts.
Labor Backs 1t.
At two conventions of the Fedora
ton held since we entered the. war
resolutions were adopted declaring for
"a league of the free peoples Of the
world in a common covenant for gen.
uine and practical cooperation to Sc
cure Justice and therefore peace in re-
lations between nations" This decla-
ration voices the true sentiment of
the American men and women of
labor.
The position of the British labor
movement has been forcibly stated in
demand for a "super-national au-
thority. or League of Nations. which
should not only be adhered to by all
the belligerents, but which every other
independent sovereign state in the
world shall be pressed to join" It
advocates an International High Court
to hear and settle all justiciable dis
putes arising between nations, and it
strongly urges the construction Of ap-
propriate machinery for prompt and
effective mediation of all issues be-
tween states that are not justiciable.
British Workers Ring True.
The British workers go still fur
ther and have asked for the formation
of an International Legislature, in
which the representatives Of every civ
ilized state would have heir allotted
share. And finally they insist that IS
condition precedent to admission
into the League of Nations every state
shall make solemn pledge to submit
every issue it may have with. other
states for settlement by the tribunals
of the League. and that it-"will make