The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-11-05
country UNITES.:
IN CAMP A|CN TO-:
PUT END TO WAR
Public Men Meet With GonlDers
and Define Position on World
Disarmament.

city the national disarmament advi-
sorry committee invited to convene by
President Gompers formed a per-
manent organization to be known, as
the general committee for limitation
of armament.
The organization will be directed
by a board of governors of 21 men,
bers and an executive committee Of
five. There will be chairman, hon.
orary chairman, secretary, treasurer
and an executive. secretary. Offices
will be opened in Washington at once.
Membership on the board of gov
ernors will be so arranged as to make
that body representative of all organ
lied groups which favor limitation of
armament.
The two-day conference. presided
over by President Gompers, was re-
markable for it's Unity of view point
and for its expression Of deternina-
ton to give force to Mr.. Gen1pers'
declaration for "the furthest ffmitt2ef
disarmament.
No Definite Proposals.
In its declaration of principles and
purpose the conference said, in part:
1T is not our purpose to attempt
to suggest definite proposals to end
war. The heavy responsibility rests
on the appointed representatives of
our own and other governments.
But we believe that few general
principles are accepted as self-evident
by a great majority of our fellow
countrymen, and that it may be help
full to restate them at this time.
'"The United States alone and sin
gle handed cannot best serve the
Even is such solitary disarmament
were possible to a limited extent, it
would not make for world peace. 1t
would only lessen our power to stand
for freedom and to protect democracy
throughout the world. Disarmament
can be made effective only BY inter-
national agreement. There is NJ
other way. -. ~: g
Chief Cause OF War.
"Great armies and navies are not
the chief causes of war. Frightful as
is the burden they put upon the peo-
pies of the earth a great world war
are not the only means of destruc-
tion. Terrible as will be the devasta-
ton Of the world by it's armies and
navies, the poison gases and deadly
chemical compounds now being dis
covered in the secret laboratories OF
many nations, even those which may
have a peace-time use, may annihilate
civilization in the next war. Against
such obstruction no disa armament can
protect US. ~.
THE Limitation of armaments. IS a
good thing in itself. It will saveHthe
great nations Of the world from
threatened financial collapse. ;kis
a long step forward but it is not peace
'The causes Of war lie far deeper.
The awful madness Of war is rooted
in economic necessities and greed, III
paralyzing fear Of unprovoked at
tack, in ancient wrongs not -yet
righted. :
1.-THE agenda of the coming inter
national conference give us reason to
believe that together with the limita-
tion of ornaments some of the causes
of war will be considered. f"..
Confession of Faith. -
1T is in this hope and in support
of our American representatives that
we submit on behalf of ourselves and
of the millions of men and women in
the United States the following con-
fession of faith: T..
"We pronounce to the world! .ohr
deep and abiding faith in democracy
and therefore in peace. pe...
1--WE proclaim to the world a faith
that has not been dampened or
by past official lasstude
or diplomatic delay and evasion,
I'VE demand International peace.
"We demand an official policy
which shall lead the nations of the
world into the thinking Of peace the
peace.
1--WE have Just gone through great
war-a war without precedent. This
we did for a great cause. We fought
for the life of democracy, that its in
stitutions and its spirit might be pre-
served. 4lni:.tre,.
ave have assured to democracy the
right to live and to function. - :, ss;ssys}
Autocracy Is Gone. - 'sst5csT
I'VE have done more. We have s8S-
liberated the last Of the great unlif1i-
tied autocrats. - soy
rs a world organized democratic
ally to confess the inability to Qse4thes
Of democracy? We de-
clare to the world our faith that the
Of democracy is sufficient
that it must be sufficient and that,
our statement must not be permitted;
to invest democracy with the, ancient
traditions. fears, superstitions, me-,
chanics and economic adjustments
IF autocracy. ~, = ..
with those ancient trappinss the
world has done. ,:,5ss,sss.s..s:,..
1--WE are upon the threshotdsof
new day. s.:.s r
We are gazing upon a world whose
spirit calls for peace. :si55i5szf;:isi
"Peace with the world Of today IL
more than an economic necessity-A
S spiritual necessity. a morafsneces-
;ity, a necessity that confor1 e
world that has asreached that staks
where democratic governments Is pos-
,ible and where fearless recoSnlftoy
e truth 3is possible.