4
MILITARISM
Thin Paper is Owned, Controlled and Published by Local 240 of the L U» M. M &. S. W
VOL. 11
NOICB, AT.AHKA. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1918.
NO. 2408.
LEADERS YIELD TO LADOR DRAFT
I
MINE WORKERS
TO OPPOSE
PEACE ARMIES
_ I
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 18.—The
principal discussion animating the
large convention of the United
Mine Workers of America today
day had to do with the principle
of militarism as a permanent gov
ernments 1 policy.
The gravest apprehensions were
expressed for the future liberties
of the republic in view of antici
pated tendencies resulting from the
building up of a large military par
ty incident to the conduct of the
present war and the powerful eco
nomic pressures expected to be ex
ercised on the part of business and
manufacturing enterprises which
have grown into unparallelled
wealth and affluence because of the
present war traffic.
The Convention without dissent
recorded itself as being most un
qualifiedly opposed to universal
military establishment in peace
times.
The debate indicated mainly that
the chief concern of the delegates
however was to avoid saddling on
to the country any general military
system after the war is over. The
addresses were bare of any of the
fire and thunder heroics of the
customary pacificist but with all
the well tempered conservatism of
this vast organization’s leadership
it was manifest that any general
trend toward the induction of mili
tarism in the ordinary life of the
Republic would be resisted.
The Convention is proceeding in
the greatest spirit of harmony and
even the radical delegates betrayed
obvious self-restraint on the mili
tary subject contenting themselves
with warnings intended for consid
eration in the poBt bellum period,
and to directing attention to the in
consistencies between essential de
mocracy and militarism which on
its part was declared to be un
avoidably despotic.
Emphatic denial was made of the
accusations that the coal miners
have in any cense been responsible
for tho present fuel shortage be
cause of their refusal to work and
it was shown that in ninety per
cent of the workings the most ami
cable relations existed between
themselves and the operators and
operators associations and that
nowhere dees there exist any dis
putes that may not be obviated by
peaceable negotiation.
On the contrary the insistence
was made that the hardships re
sulting from a lack of fuel sup
plies is directly chargeable to the
shortage of overland cars at the
mine mouths.
A resolution was adoptel urging
the most whole hearted support of
the Red Cross and suggesting that
the assistance to be afforded should
be frequent and continuing through
out the period of war needs for
mercy and relief work.
CIVIL MUTINY MAY
CAUSE PEACE
BERNE, aJn. 18.—That an early
termination of the world war may
result from increasing dissatisfac
tion among the civilian populations
of tho belligerent nations and par
ticularly those of the Central Pow
ers is made more evident today
with the news reaching thiB city
from various points in Austria.
Scenes of turbulence and rioting
of a serious nature are reported in
Vienna, the Austrian capital and
largest city. Throngs of people in
Bucii misses as to proclude inter
ference by the police and military
authorities are marching the streets
with banners and placards demand
ing the end of the war. Subsist
ence storehouses and food supply
depots are being raided and pill
aged.
The orators harranguing the
streets aro ,tn come Instances but
efforts at reproscion appear merely
to add to the murmings of discon
tent. Strikes aro threatened as a
means of compelling the govern
ment the modify its peace terms
to comport with those of the Rus
sian Boi3hcviki and of practically
all of the allied powers who have
so far made official announcement j
of their changed attitude.
Aucta suffering is eminent in
Vienna as a result of the food
shortage and the agitation among
labor organizations and brother
hoods is growing.
BOLSHEVIKI ORGANIZING
SOCIALIST ARMY
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 18.—That
the Bolshevik! are preparing them
selves again at an unfavorable end
ing of the peace negotiations not
yet abandoned between Germany
and Russia is indicated by the news
just reaching this city of the for
mation of a new type of army for
defense purposes.
Petrograd is the headquarters of
the new organization to be known
as the Socialist Volunteer army
and instead cf wearing military
clothes or paraphenalia of unform
style or cut the new army is to be
iu civilian dross, most likely in the
grade of clothes worn daily and
customarily by workingmen
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 18.—Another
factional fight appears to be emi
nent among the Russian revolution
aries unless the dispatches reaching
this city arc groatly falsified. The
two main loadors and officials of
the Bolsheviki, Lenine and Trotsky,
rosepctively Premier and Foreign
Minister, are believed to have a
falling over some dispute as to au
thority, but so far no actual disrup
tion is threatened.
COPENHAGEN, Jan. 17.—That
the Bolshoviki have put the Petro
grad city under mrjtial law pend
ing the mooting of the Constituent
escembly, a course decided upon to
prevent disorder.
Anything In the Une of job work
LLOYD GEORGE SAYS
MILITARISTS CONTROL
LONDON, Jan. 18.—The British
Premier Lloyd George delivered a
special address to tho labor dele
gates in Parliament yesterday ir.
response to late intimations from
the labor leaders that the English
government can very well afford to
adopt a more modified attitude in
the matter of the war.
Discussion to this end had been
engaged on the part of the labor
representatives in which it appear
ed the preponderant opinion that
the coming of peace might be hast
CONVICTS TO
PRODUCE FOR
WAR SUPPLIES
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Jan. 18.—
,'A complete about-face in policy bo
far as the products of convict labor
are concerned was made by the
American Federation of Labcr to
day.
A delegation of the executive of
ficials of that body, which is un
doubtedly the largest and most
cloiely organized influence in Am
erican life, appeared before the
House of Representatives Labor
Committee today and represented
their organizations as favoring a
qualified labor conscription law and
one that would permit the produc
tion of nccccsary war supplies by
•convict labor.
Heretofore by the vigorous use
of the Union Label the organized
labor people of the country have
succeeded in driving convict made
goods out of the legitimate market
and have prevented the penal insti
tutions of the country from becom
ing commodity manufacturing
establishments.
In a great many 3tr.tes that have
succeeded in securing legislation
preventing the interstate ehipmeut
of convict made goods and in con
sequence of this police the labor
of penitentiary inmates has moot
generally been confined to local im
provements, the building of roads,
the production of ma.tcrir.ls con
sumed by the state etc.
The arguments prevailing in sup
port of the antocodent attitude are
held to bo temporarily removed
and it is not now believed that the
use of convict labor in the manu
facture of war supplies will have
any appreciable tendency toward a
reduction of wages, and if so, that
the national exigencies justify the
temporary relaxation.
In presenting their concessions
the labor leaders were careful to
make it plain they wore in no wise
yielding the general issues involved
and that their intention was that
it should apply only throughout the
period of labor shortage which ad
mittedly embarrasses the progress
of the government's waa enter
prises.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 18.—
Despite the storm of vociferation
and tearing of hair it was made
plain today that the Fuel Adminis
trator Garfield, apparently secure
in the approval of his cheif, the
President, would make no modifica
tion in hl3 orders suspending for
a period of five days the coal con
suming industries of the country.
It is recalled that in the Civil
War President Lincoln brought the
produco speculators to time by
threatening to break their granar
ies and ware-houses with axes, but
the present procedure which is
now regarded as the action of Pre
sident Wilson is contemplated as
the most revolutionary departure
ever made by the American govern
ment, whose foundations so far
have been embeddee in the righta
of private property.
Fur garments made and repaired
at the Nome Tailoring Company.
HENRY FORD GETS
BY CLOSING ORDER
WASHINGTON, D. C. Jan. 18.—
While no modification could be se
cured in the terms of the Fuel Ad
ministration's suspension orders a
considerable number of firms en
gaged in a variety of enterprises
were specifically exempted.
Among those so favored was the
home plant of the Ford Automobile
works at Detroit and the Packard
Company in those departments
which are engaged in the manufac
ture of war equipment.
Garment manufacturers engaged
in the production of military cloth
ing already contracted for, ships
yards under contract with the gov
ernment! shipping commission, and
steel plants having runs of metal
for government plates required for
ships, arc likewise especially ex
cepted by designation.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 18.—
Naval officers testifying before the
House Naval Affairs Committee
ctatod that the Garfield's order
closes down several establishments
engaged in the manufacture of na
val supplies.
Thoro are indications that the
President himself realizes that
there must be some amplification
of the reasons for the Fuel Admi
nistrators paralyzing order and it
is believed that an explanatory
statement is forthcoming from the
Whito Houso direct.
SENATE TO CREATE
A WAR CABINET
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 18.—
A little lower than the President
in power and rank and a little
higher than the President’s cabinet
is to be the status of a new depart
ment to be created by this adminis
tration already going the limit in
the creation jjt new governing
stunts.
To the Senate Military Affairs
Committee belongs the credit for
the new suggestion as embodied in
a favorable recommendation of a
war cabinet to have entire jurisdic
tion of all war and military matt
ers and sit in deliberation upon
solely and giving ^concern to no
other problems.
oned In the manner indicated by
taking a step alightly ahead of the
Teutonic peace tendencies. The
labor people had arrived at their
conclusions because of late demon
strations by the Germans who at
most are beginning to be regarded
as but remotely responsible for the
imperialistic attitude of the Ger
man government.
The Premier in responding point
ed out that no minor German could
bo considered nor could the English
course be modified by it, except
that it might be regarded as a
strategy advantage, no matter how
helpful a sign it might prove to
ward the conclusion o£ peace.
GET THE NEWS IilGIIT. KKVO
THE WOHTUSR.
As the President’s present Cabi
net is at present it comprises the
heads of the several administrative
departments most of which are
burdened with active responsibil
ities only remotely related to the
war, or but indirectly so at least.
It is being urged that be the new
arrangement the President will be
afforded an advisory council that
may keep" more immediately in
touch with the war concerns and
by reason of its created powers and
prestige superior to the present
cabinet remove the friction incident
to having the war office subsidary
to it.
Reasonable prices, ami first clas9
workmanship at the Nome Tailoring
Company,