The American Federation of Labor was closely in touch with those directing and con cerned in the European War and understood that in the last analysis the war was labor's war and the fighting elements in the war were soldiers, sailors and workers. Thus, the es sential thing for winning the war was to or ganize production. Workers performed an essential part in production and therefore de manded that they have a voice in determining conditions under which production shall be carried on.
As the war progressed and it became evi dent that institutions of democracy and free dom the world over were involved and that therefore the United States could not avoid becoming an active member of the Allies fighting against militarism and despotism, rep resentatives of the organized labor movement of this country met in Washington on 12 March 1917 and adopted a declaration entitled, "American Labor's Position in Peace and in War." That declaration clearly sets forth the duties and responsibilities of workers to a free republic, and made clear the loyalty of labor and its determination to render service to the republic in the time of peril. It also set forth the conditions under which labor could render service and at the same time maintaining the principles of freedom for all. Workers, as representatives of labor, have been appointed to several important governmental committees and agencies dealing with war problems. The president of the American Federation of La bor, Samuel Gompers, was appointed by Presi dent Wilson as a member of the Advisory Commission to the Council of National De fense.
In order to facilitate war production and avert situations that might interfere with con tinuous work, representatives of the organized labor movement have entered into working agreements with the government to secure this end. The most important of these agreements were the agreement between the Seamen's organization and the Shipping Board; agree ment between Samuel Gompers and Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, providing for the union scale and hours in cantonment construc tion. This agreement was later approved for construction work in the Navy Department and extended to include repairs and the build ing of warehouses. An agreement was entered into between representatives of labor organi zations concerned and the Ship Building Emer gency Fleet Construction Corporation covering the construction of ships. The International Longshoremen's Association entered into an agreement with the Shipping Board under which all disputes involving their members should be settled by a labor adjustment board, and which also provided for union hours and wages. The United Leather Workers' Inter national Union entered into an agreement covering war production with various em ployers and the War Department.
The organized labor movement aims to ex tend the number and the application of agree ments covering war work in order that there may be established agencies for dealing with industrial difficulties as they arise, and thus prevent industrial struggle. It has also main tained the democratic principle that the work ers ought to be represented on all war boards and agencies that deal with matters concerning the life and the work of wage earners.
The Federation has taken an important part in international affairs and has steadfastly opposed international conferences of working men in which there were to be representatives of labor movements of enemy countries. How ever, it has advocated the holding of a world labor congress at the close of the war at the same time and place where the international peace congress shall be held.
The President of the United States ac cepted an invitation to address the Buffalo (1917) Convention of the Federation. His address to that convention may be found in the printed Proceedings, and also in the American Federationist for January 1918.
The Convention adopted the following declaration as Labor's peace program: I. The combination of the free peoples of the world in • covenant for genuine and practical co-operation to secure justice and therefore peace in relations between nations.
2. Governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed.
3. No political or economic restrictions meant to benefit some nations and to cripple or embarrass others.
4. No indemnities or reprisals based upon vindictive purposes or deliberate desire to injure, but to right manifest wrongs.
5. Recognition of the rights of small nations and of the principle, " No people must be forced under sovereignty under which it does not wish to live.' 6. No territorial changes or adjustment of power except in furtherance of the welfare of the peoples affected and in furtherance of world peace.
In addition to these basic principles, which are based upon declarations of our President of these United States.
there should be incorporated in the treaty that shall con stitute the guide of nations in the new period and conditions into which we enter at the close of the war the following declarations fundamental to the best interests of all nations and of vital importance to wage-earners: 1. No article or commodity shall be shipped or delivered in international commerce in the production of which children under the age of 16 have been employed or permitted to work.
2. It shall be declared that the basic workday in industry and commerce shall not exceed eight hours.
3. Involuntary servitude shall not exist except as a punish ment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
4. Establishment of trial by jury.
The American Federation of Labor in 1:4:7 published an official journal called the Union Advocate. In 1894 it began the publication of a monthly magazine, The American Federa tionist. In 1911 the Federation began issuing a weekly news letter, for the purpose of assisting the labor press throughout the country. A number of official pamphlets and publications can be had from headquarters. Consult Ald rich, 'American Federation of Labor' (Vol. III of 'Economic Studies' 1898) ; Gompers, 'The Labor Movement and Others' ; McGuire 'The American Federation of Labor' ; and annual reports of the Federation.