Montana labor news., 1939-08-31
Special Message for
Labor Day. 1899
CONTINUED from Page d

IboCA RAAOAA VI AAAC WI hC4O III Nll- |
vate industry. How that is to be
accomplished is yet to be determined,
but it is a problem which must be
met. It is problematic just how
long our present social order can
stand the strain of continued public
spending for relief and relief prof.
ects. Certain it is, however, that so
long as these millions are idle, and
until they r re-employed in pri-
vate industry, government spending
for relief purposes must continue.
Whatever is preventing the adjust
ing of our economic ills should be
remedied as rapidly as possible.
Every effort possible should be made
to ascertain the causes of this NAL
adjustment of our economic affairs,
and the indicated remedy should be
applied at once. The solution of our
Unemployment problem still remains
of paramount importance to the
workers as we'll as all other citizens
of our Nation.
Among the manifold lessons which
we learned as a result of the World
War was the absolute necessity of
cooperation between all groups of
citizens at all times, and particularly
in time of national or international
crises. Labor rose to the occasion
to a man and gave wholehearted
support to our Government in its
hour of need. Labor's opinion was
sought and our advice given serious
consideration. Without the support
which Labor gave the war could
not have been brought to a success
full conclusion. We were hopeful
that our proved willingness and
ability to serve when needed would
convince those in authority of our
place in national and international
affairs. However, when our abili-
ties were no longer critically need
ed there was a marked tendency
toward reactionary policies toward
Labor and a decided inclination to
ignore our rights when depression
manifested itself. We know now
that in order to afford a continuing
protection for our rights and to make
ourselves heard, wage earners must
depend wholly upon their trade
unions. AS unions become weakened
through loss Of membership or divi-
sion or for any other cause, opportu-
nifty is afforded for those who would
shackle the workers to make I'M
warranted inroads on our progress.
l am moved to bring this matter to
your attention at this time because
of the ominous signs of war which
are present in the Old World. It is
within the memory Of most of US
how comparatively minor clashes
and eventually wars in Europe final
ly engulfed our Nation. We know
that there is no other group in So
ciety more affected by war than
Labor, for the wage earners and
their dependents represent approx
mately 88 per cent of the popula-
ton of our Nation. Our opinions,
therefore, should certainly be con-
sidered in the formulation of inter
national as well as national policy.
Labor wants peace. We are OPP
posed to the involvement of our
Nation in European or other foreign
wars. We want peace for the entire
world and to that end are willing
that the services of our Government
be extended in the promotion of
peaceful solution of world problems.
However, we are strongly of the
opinion that the exercise of media
ton and moral pressure in the inter
ests of world peace should be such
as to prevent the inclusion of our
country in any conflict which may
arise between foreign nations. The
influence of the American labor
movement will be directed toward
the realization of this goal of peace
and to the pursuit of a policy of
strictest neutrality toward those
countries which may be engaged in
war or military conflict. The voice
of Labor should be sounded unmis-
takably, and our unions strengthened
to give weight to u opinions.
One of the most important of the
manifold services which the labor
movement as represented by the
American Federation of Labor is
rendering to our Nation is our re-
lentless fight against the forces of
communism, nazism, fascism or any
other ism" which threatens the well
being of our country. The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor will con-
tinue to combat any attempts which
might be made nov or in the future
to establish a dictatorship as a sub
stitute for our Democracy, no mat
ter in what guise it may present it.
self. We place freedom above and
beyond every other privilege we
may enjoy and we know that should
we lose that we will have lost all,
for ourselves and for posterity. This
is one of the detectives precious
enough for the workers to be willing
to sacrifice, even to life itself. 1t is
the cornerstone of democracy and a