The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-23
OPPONENTS Of LEAGUE
ARE FOES Of LABOR
80 Saws John III. Walker I'm Letter to
United Mine Workers Convention.


New York, Sept. 2l.-Among the
chief opponents of tho peace treaty
aud the league Of nations covenant
| arc those VINO ara Interested in the
| production of war munitions and
7 those employers Of labor who fear the
/ League viii deprive them of present
/ unfair and special privileges says
John II. walker the Illinois labor
! laader in a letter addressed TO the
! 2 800 delegates attending the United
| Mine Workers convention at Cleve-
I land. Mr. Walker, who used to be
! president of the Illinois State Fedora
! ton of Labor and is q delegate to the
! convention from Westvillc. III. sent
his appeal also to the unions affiliated
with the A +. Of l., all over the
United States. II was given out here
today through the league to enforce
, peace Of which the writer is a ma
taonal officer.
Mr. walker calls upon the miners
delegates 10 declare for Immediate
ratification of the peace treaty He
says that John Mitchell, formerly
president of the Miners Union was an
earnest worker for the league of ma
tions Up To the time of his death, a
few days ago.
He asserts that if the league issue
is not disposed of now it will be para
mount in the next presidential cam
paign and prevent the people from
devoting their fun attention TO the
problems of labor and the high cost
OF living, which inevitably will be the
main issue If the league question IL
settled.
The letter says, IN part:
Means End OF Wars.
The ratification OF the peace treaty
and covenant Immediately is of
greater importance to labor than any
other single thing that can be accom-
iplished al this time. II is not only the
longest step that can be taken to-
wards avoiding war in the future
practically everyone agrees that it
means the end of all wars in the
larger sense and minimizing If not ac-
tually preventing even small wars in
the future} it viii mean the end Of
mihtarism in its dangerous sense in
all the world for all time reducing the
burden Of taxation to all the peoples
on the earth, and releasing their
means their energies and time for use
! in the bettcrment and progress of hu~
mainly.
Its labor program brings the con-
$ ditons OF labor and the workers
themselves. the human beings up for
open discussion and action in a
II worlds forum. the thing, which more
E Than any other labor has sought for
in all the past which will mean a
worlds moral influence operating for
. justice TO labor 1t is something that
r every intelligent big hearted human
, being on earth iaVorS.
e The statement of opponents that
4 we give UP any of our Independence in
- becoming a party To that league is the
. rankcst hypocrisy and must have for
!, It's basis the belief that the workers
[ are so ignorant that they cannot un-
r dcrstand what H. rileGrts; Tsecsiuse
g there ie no possibility of avoiding
t wars in the future between nations
n except through the establishment OF
c !a worlds court 20 settle disputes be-
As Fwrcm them ana no nation can, he
come a partv -to that court wit hoii
= ! assuming the obligations of carrying
e into effect the purposes involved. We
- are no more giving up our indepen'
t dencc as q catlon In becoming a party
s to that obligation. than we are giving
,. up our independence as individuals
). when we accept the obligations u
S citizenship in our country. The fact
t is gain greater real INDEPENDENCE
[ ana greater security in the exercise ol
v our rights by assuming those obiiga
I tions. and il is only those whose sci.
- fish interests and lnwless disposition;
are 10 be served and satisfied by H.
I ccnsc who are opposed to the obliga-
L ton OF citizenship either national o'
n in world sense.
n Metcenary Interests.
= This Is particularly true with refer
- cnce to the pending treaty and cove
e nant as it applies 10 those who have
Il or political interests INTERVIEWED with
f them, IA well OF course as those who
d are opposed 10 lahors. progress.
2 Among those who arc actively op-
q posing the ratification at the present
n time are senators who have business
,,,1 Il, ,re
members of their families interested
Sc in copper lead steel, lumber, ship
Z ping military clothing stufts. wal
= supplies and equipment industries
:. who make enormous profits during
& wars and during the time of prospec'
90 tive wars and out of the maintenance
S OF military organizations because o!
e the possibility of wars II Is also true
u of some senators who are involved
e with their political interests in indus
o tries which have the highest protee-
n tive tariff and the lowest wage-scaie
!, in our country, who believe that as a
d tariff is a regulation between nations
- that If a worlds court is provided II
!. ultimately will have jurisdiction oves
g the regulations between nations and
THAT IL will settle them in the open
e where all can see and understand and
n that all unfair advantages and specil
= privileges will be taken away from
G them.
/ Hope of Small Nations.
. Everybody with common sense
q knows that the only guarantee oil
z safety 10 small nations is the league
j of nations; that the only conditions
] under which nations afraid of invasion
by robber nations can give complete
= separate self government to small ma
C tons In contiguous territory which
. could be used as a military and naval
, base by those invading robber nations
, for attacking them. is the guarantee
. Of their territorial integrity by the
( league Of nations (The only hope OF
self determination and independent
= self government by small nations lies
I In tho league of nations: the only flu
: ture hope of reparation for helpless
J China lies in the league OF nations,)
! Leading machine politicians arc
g manoeuvering In such way as TO
g make the peace treaty political foot
4 ball for the time being, in the hope
e that they may make IT the main is
= sue In the next presidential campaign
= rather than have labor and the high
: cost Of living become the main issue