By GRANT HAMILTON,

Legislative Committeeman American

Labor

Federation of Labor.

must sacrifice its freedom and do and die,

And it mustn't even speak or ask the reason why.

Since April 5 a state of war has existed between this country and Germany. Congress has pledged the manhood and wealth of this nation to conduct an armed conflict. The citizenship of America is bound by this declaration to assume the responsibility and bear the burdens of a war in which they are to have small influence in directing, if those who are most vitally concerned do not quickly and vehemently register their protest against autocratic proposals now under consideration.

That the United States should be supported loyally by its people in the impending struggle is not a debatable question. Our country will be defended as valiantly in the present crisis as it has been in former conflicts, but this occasion must not be made the opportunity for fastening upon this nation militarism. Like every other country, we have our Junkers.

Immediately following the declaration of a state of war by Congress from every quarter of the United States there came insistent demands that Congress adopt a conscription law. These demands proceed largely from those who hold investmentsthe American Junker class.

For over 140 years we have indulged in the glorification of our democratic institutions. We fought the war of independence in 1776 by a volunteer force. The second war of independence of 1812 was fought an won by volunteers. Out of 4,000,000 males qualified for military service at the opening of the Civil War 1,000,000

volunteered the first year. In fact, Secretary Stanton sent out notice after the first call for volunteers that the call had been "oversubscribed." Later on, in 1863, Congress did pass a "draft" law, but President Lincoln, although opposed to it, accepted the alternative because of the desperate situation then existing. However, the draft, according to the best information obtainable, was responsible for the enlistment of only 61,947 men for the Union army. This was 2.3 per cent. of the total forces of the entire war, and 4.5 per cent. of une forces raised after the draft was authorized.

During the last Congress the Chamberlain bill providing for universal service made its appearance. Its introduction was, as now appears, the overture to a general plan to revolutionize our democratic institutions and place them upon a military basis. Prussian militarism is based on universal service. Aside from the concrete reasons assigned for entering the war with Germany the public mind is expected to accept the added reason that we also are to assist in crushing militarism. In carrying out the latter, however, the present program is plunging the American people into the very form of militarism which it is proposed we are to crush.

That the undemocratization of our institutions is making headway it is only necessary to point out that the Military Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives is now holding secret sessions, with officials of the War and Navy Departments closeted with the committee, conscription being under consideration.

From statements of Government officials it is evident that the purpose is to secure authority from Congress to conscript an army of 1,000,000 men during the next year. The plan of

raising a volunteer army is not being considered. With the present state of mind of the citizenship it has undoubtedly been concluded by the American Junkers that under the war clouds obscuring the normal vision a favorable opportunity is presented to fasten upon this nation a military establishment which can never be shaken off.

The American Junkers are not unwise.

Among them are the keenest minds and shrewdest manipulators of the country. They look far into the future and cunningly devise methods by which they hope to achieve wealth and power for themselves, even though their success means the destruction of our national ideals and beliefs that a democracy of the people can be maintained and perpetuated by the voluntary response of the people in times of stress.

In the ebb and flow of history it is unerringly recorded that with the advance of militarism, democracy of the people recedes. The United States (with its incomputable resources and vast accumulated wealth, owned and controlled by the American Junker class) is controlled by a democracy of the people, and wealth, at least to some degree, is compelled to assume the burdens of government and accept a modicum of regulation.

Under the present stress of war, the first favorable opportunity which has been presented to the American Junkers for a century to engraft upon this Government militarism every economic and political wire is freighted with energy in an effort to commit the United States to an old-world war policy.

DIDN'T WEAKEN LAW

Salt Lake City.-The State Legislature refused to accept an amendment to the workmen's compensation law which would permit employers of alien labor to enjoy a maximum liability of less than $1,000 where these employes sustained fatal injuries.

The plan was urged by corporations, but the lawmakers refused to encourage the displacement

NO FLAG, WORKERS STRIKE.

Paterson, N. J.-Thirty-five employes declared a strike at the Cedar Cliff Silk Mill, in Haldedon, because there was no flag flying from the factory. And although a special messenger rushed from New York with the bunting, he was five minutes too late to avert a walk-out. "The mill flag had been sent to New York for a preparedness parade," said John D. Ulrich, superintendent. "As soon as a request was made to display it we telephoned to our office and a messenger brought it on the first train. The flag is up and the strikers are back at work."

MUST PROTECT LABOR.

New York.-Resolutions urging "all public-spirited citizens to co-operate in maintaining essential minimum requirements for the protection of those who serve the industries of the nation" were adopted by the American Association for Labor Legislation. The standards recommended refer to safety, sanitation, hours of labor, wages, child labor, women's work, social insurance, the labor market and administration of labor laws.

"The effective strength of our nation is needed as never before," the association's statement said, "and we cannot afford to suffer loss of labor power through accidents, diseases, industrial poisoning and over-fatigue."

TO GET THEIR BACK MONEY.

Pittsburgh. According to announcement made by the American Manganese Manufacturing Company, some 600 former employes of the Dunbar Furnace Company or their heirs will this week receive back pay due them from the time the Dunbar Furnace Company, predecessor of the Manganese Company, went into receivership on July 22, 1910. It is understood between $25,000 and $30,000 is payable, this representing the wages of the men from July 1, 1910, to the time the company failed.

Successful management of the plant and the country's prosperity made possible paying off next year's obligations, it was stated.

BY W. Z. FOSTER.

Stupidity and Weakness.

Nowhere is there a more deplorable and contemptible spectacle than that presented by unorganized workingmen. Captive in the toils of heartless exploiters whom they could demolish in a jiffy if they only would, they can't run away, and they haven't the heart to stand and fight. They don't even protest their wrongs. All they do is cringe and suffer in silence, a miserable picture of incompetence and cowardice.

Everywhere about them object lessons fairly shriek the command to organize and fight. The great accomplishments of organized labor stare them in the face on every hand. So do those of organized capital. They see how low those sink who won't strike a blow in their own behalf. But all this is utterly lost upon them. They are deaf to reason and blind to example. They are inert, unresponsive clay, able only to cringe and whine like a dog before its master.

Even the lower animals put them to blush in the skill and vigor of their self-defense. Consider, for instance, the tactics of wild ducks. Up north, in the summer time, these timid creatures swarm by millions. In their fat juiciness they literally carpet the lakes. Yet, although unprotected with natural weapons, they are rarely attacked by the ferocious birds of prey of the district. If occasionally some hungry and inexperienced eagle or hawk, determined upon a rich meal of choice duck, dashes into a flock and seizes a victim, his punishment is swift and fatal. Like a flash thousands of ducks rush at him and by sheer weight of numbers crush out his life. Thus, through organization, the individually helpless ducks are able to

defeat their most powerful enemies. The only ducks who ever get eaten by hawks are those poor non-unionists, who, having no sense of solidarity wander away from the flock.

Were the unorganized workers to show a fraction of the courage and organization spirit of these ducks they, too, would easily repel their enemies and put an end to exploitation. But not they-in spite of their human understanding all they can find it in them to do is to cringe in individual helplessness while the great industrial hawks prey upon them at will.

Labor's Greatest Enemy.

The unorganized haven't the courage and ambition to fight their own battle. The sufferings of their women and children awaken no echo of revolt in their dull hearts. They leave all the fighting to others. But they don't forget to absorb the advantages won by the fighters. They are like those ducks who, too cowardly themselves to take part in resisting invaders, nevertheless enjoy the security of the flock.

The trade unions struggle on against great odds, fighting onward through blood and misery for concessions for all. Without their fight the unorganized would soon sink into a poverty and degradation far worse than anything we now know of. But the latter are not even grateful. They are too sodden and inert for that. They are like the lower animals, simply taking things as they find them, without understanding or protest. Whatever comes to their maw they devour, without a care for its origin or a thought of its betterment. To them social ideals and responsibilities are things inexistent. They are human parasites!

And even this doesn't sound the full depths of their shame. They are worse than cowards and parasites; they

are traitors-traitors to the working class and to themselves. They bite the hand that feeds them. They actually strew difficulties in the way of those who fight for them and their families. They help the hawks that prey upon them.

The worst enemy of labor is not the employer, but the unorganized workingmen. No sooner do trade unionists make a move to better conditions by withholding their precious labor-power from their employer than, like vultures swarming to a carcass, these maverick nondescripts rush in to take their places. What matters it to them that the trade-unionists are striving to put a little more bread in the mouths of the children of all? What do they know of liberty, progress, solidarity and the other noble things which men fight and die for, and which command them in no uncertain tones to make common cause with the strikers and to starve rather than to scab upon them? Not a thing in the world. They are as destitute of understanding, responsibility and nobility of purpose as an employer is of mercy. All their miserable philosophy sees is a vacant place, and they proceed to fill it.

Thus they habitually compromise the cause of strikers, and with it their own. And thus they always make themselves the dupe of their enemies. Out of their colossal ignorance and stupidity are forged fetters for the whole working class. Were it not for their treason the exploiters would be helpless. A united working class would shut off their supply of labor-power. And without that all their schemes would be fruitless. They can coin no profits without workers to exploit. They would collapse. The Trade Unions would make short shrift of the wages system and all its miseries. The unorganized are the real enemies of Labor; the true obstacle to Liberty.

ity and sluggishness and the rewards that come to fighters! Desert forever the stolid, stupid, spiritless ranks of the unorganized! Affiliate with that great and growing band of workers who have the intelligence to perceive their oppressors and the courage to attack them! Be a live fish swimming against the current of tyranny to the springs of liberty; not a dead one floating with it to the sink of slavery! Join the trade union movement! Become part of the American Federation of Labor.

By doing so you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Trade unionism means for you and yours prosperity instead of poverty; freedom instead of bondage. But better than all, it means the satisfying sense of a duty well done; the inspiring consciousness that you are doing your share in the world-wide struggle of the oppressed to make this world a better and a brighter place to live in, and a nobler heritage for oncoming generations.

The trade union movement is not perfect. No one claims that. Its members are but workingmen just emerging from the jungle of ignorance. It makes many mistakes, but they are mistakes of the head and not of the heart. Possibly you have some real or fancied grievance against it. If so, all the more reason why you should be on the inside trying to correct the abuse you have in mind. If you have any suggestions looking to the betterment of labor, the trade unions have crying need of you. One of the worst features of the labor movement is the tendency of energetic and idealistic workers to hold themselves aloof from it because it doesn't conform to some cut-and-dried plan of perfection.

In spite of its faults the trade union movement is the greatest libertarian movement this planet has ever known. It is fighting the last battle between master and slave. Its inevitable triumph will mean the realization of the goal towards which humanity's noblest minds have turned for countless ages: the final overthrow of tyranny and the eternal ascendency of liberty and jus