South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-24
LEAGUE FOES ARE
LABOR s ENEMIES
Mine Workers Demand Ratifi-
ton of Treaty ard De-
nOunce Senate.
Special % The News-Times:

Special O. The News Times.
NEW YORK. Sept "a - Among
the chief opponents Of the peace
treaty and the League OF Nations
covenant are those who are. inter
ested in the production Of war
munitiou and those employers Of
labor who fear the league viii de-
prlve them Of present unfair and
special privileges says John H.
walker. the Illinois labor leader. i'm
a letter addressed 10 the $500 dele
gates attending tho United Mine
Workers convention M Cleveland
Mr. walker. who used 90 be presi-
dent Of the Illinois State Federation
Of Labor and is delegate 90 the
convention from Westviue. Ill.,. sent
his appeal also % the unions afh-
lated with the A. r. Of J.. all over
the United States. IL was given out
here today through the league TO
enforce peace. Of which the writer is
"a national officer
Mr.. Walker calls upon the miners
delegates % declare for immediate
ratification Of the peace treaty Hc
says that John Mitchell. formerly
president Of the miners union. was
an earnest worker for the League Of
Nations mp Co the time Of his death
a few days ago.
re asserts that If the league issue
Is not disposed of now IT. viii be
paramount in the next presidential
campaign and prevent the people
from devoting their fun attention
to the problems Of labor and the
high cost Of living. which inevi-
tably viii be the main issue If the
league question is settled
Means End Of War;.
The ratification OF the peace
treaty and covenant Immediately is
Of greater importance 20 labor than
any other single thing that can be
accomplished at this time. II is not
only the longest step that can be
taken towards avoiding war I'm the
future practically everyone agrees
that IL means the end Of all wars i'm
the larger sense and minimizing If
not actually preventing even small
wars in the future) il wiu mean
the end of militarism in its danger
Gus sense in all the world for all
time reducing the burden of taxa
ton 10 all the peoples ON the earth
and releasing their means. their en-
crgies and time for use i'm the bet
terment and progress Of humanity
Its labor program brings the
conditions OF labor and the workers
themselves. the human beings an
Tor open discussion and action i'm
worlds forum, the thing. which
sought for in all the past. which viii
mean a worlds moral influence OPP
Grating for justice TO labor II is
something that every intelligent big
hearted human being on earth
favors.
the statement OF opponents that
we give mp any Of our independence
in becoming a party 10 that league
IS the rankest hypocrisy and must
have, for its basis the belief that
tbe workers are so ignorant that
they cannot understand what il
mans. because there is no posi-
bfEy OF avoiding wars in the future
between nations except through the
establishment OF a worlds court to
settle disputes between them. and no
nation can become "a party 20 that
court without assuming the obliga
tons Of carrying into effect the
purposes involved. We are no more
giving up our independence as
nation in becoming a party TO that
obligation. than we are giving up
our independence as individuals
when we accept the obligations of
citizenship in our country The
fact is we gain greater real indie
pendence and greater security ir
the exercise Of our rights by assum-
ing those ohliEations. and IT is only
those whose selfish interests and
lawlcss dispositions are To- he served