, 1921-08-25
F0
1J

one of he great protecting bulwarks
of democracy. More than that, they
came to see 1t as u great creation of
democracy.
Some critics of the American labor
movement have said that ii has no
definite program, no formula that In
dicates just where 1t is going. 1 Know
of no more emphatic answer thar to
point to the road over which we have
come in ten years. l suggest that 1t
shows the direction In which we are
going; 1t shows, moreover. that we are
going.
On June 10, carrying out the spirit
of the labor declaration of March 10,
an agreement vas entered into be-
tween Secretary of War Newton d.
Baker and myself, as the representa-
tive of labor. This is the agreement:
For the adjustment and control of
wages, hours and conditions of labor in
the construction of cantonments,
there shall be created an adjustment
commission of three persons, appoint
ed by the secretary of war; one to rep
resent the army. one the public, and
one labor; the last to be nominated by
Samuel Gompers, member of the nd
visory commission of the council OF
national defense, and president of the
American Federation of Labor.
The Force Of the Worker.
A basic standards with reference
to each ~cantonment, such commission
shall use the union scale of wages,
hours and conditions In force on June
/. 1917, In the locality where such
environment is situated. Consideration
shall be given to special circumstances,
II any, arising after said date. which
may require particular advances In
wages or changes In other standards.
Adjustment OF wages, hours or condi-
lions made by such board are to be
treated as binding by all parties"
Rights to Organize.
The national war labor board adopt
ed Its principles n included therein
was: The right of workers to organ
lie and bargain collectively through
chosen representatives Is recognized
N affirmed. This right shall not be
denied. abridged or interfered with by
the employers in any manner whatso-
ever"
Thus, the right Of workers to u voice
In the determination OF their condi-
Ions OF life became one of Americas
guiding principles not only In the war
Industries OF the government, but the
spirit became most general among EN-
pfoyers the country over. The men
n women of toll had come to stand
straight I'm matters OF executive direc-
ton. In these days when so many
prophets throughout the world are
proclaiming revolutions of such sweep
ing character, It may be presumptuous
for me to use the word revolution"
but / maintain that when We reached
hat point in our national life where
labor assumed a directing role In the
affairs OF the country. n very definite
and practical revolution had been nc
complished. A definite result had
been gained, a deep-rooted concept
completely destroyed and replaced by
n new one of exactly opposite charac-
ter. and the struggling masses Of man
kind given n new status In society.
The Demands Of Labor.
We are upon days M less trying
han the days Of war. and no less
fraught with great consequences. The
service OF labor to our country will
be great. II its opportunities are great.
u true reflection OF the status that Ia
Dor occupies in the nation. The higher
and freer the position OF labor. thu
greater n nobler will be the service
OF labor. Bondmen might write a dee.
laration of freedom. but they could
not conduct their own affairs II act
the part OF freedom until they had be
come free. American labor has
achieved the great fundamentals OF In
dustrial freedom and II has established
this fact In the life and consciousness
OF the community.
Progress-not for a few, but for all
that Is he guiding thought and pur-
pose of the American labor movement.
| know Of none better.