effect, promoting the successful inauguration of the new constitutional government of Mexico and would tend to unite the people of Mexico in support of an orderly government of the country.

And it is also earnestly hoped and respectfully suggested that some definite declaration be made, not only upon the lines indicated above but should be coupled with an avowal of purpose that the Constitutionalists will carry into effect a rightful and justifiable division of the lands of Mexico for the working people.

We feel confident that such a declaration faithfully carried into effect would institute and maintain a better economic condition and a more humanitarian policy than have heretofore prevailed in Mexico.

In our judgment such a declaration and policy would do more than aught else to bring peace, unity, and progress to the people of Mexico and the stability of their government, all of which is submitted to the respectful consideration of yourself and your chief from the sincere purpose of your well-wishers and your friends. Very truly yours,

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR,
SAMUEL GOMPERS, President.

The United States representative of the Constitutionalists expressed himself as profoundly grateful for this expression of opinion, suggestion, and judgment of the A. F. of L. as to the course which should be pursued by the Mexican Constitutionalists. And now that the Constitutionalists have driven the traitor and tyrant Huerta from the office he usurped and have established the constitutional government, and that the true aims in the purposes which prompted the CarranzaVilla constitutional revolution are to be carried out, we can take pride and satisfaction in the course pursued by the A. F. of L. and by the E. C. in giving aid and encouragement to the men of Mexico who are engaged in their avowed purpose for the democratization of the institutions of the Republic of Mexico to make for the greater safety and protection of life and liberty to her people, for the abolition of slavery and peonage, and for the better distribution of the fertile lands of that country. We extend to the people of Mexico under this new regime our felicitations and our best hopes for their welfare and progress.

The convention indorsed this recommendation of the Committee on Resolutions:

We have read the communication forwarded by the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor, signed by Samuel Gompers, President, to R. Zubaran, the United States representative of the Mexican Constitutionalists. We approve the action taken by the Executive Council as indicated by the text of the communication and we recommend that the policy which the communication advocates should remain the policy of the American Federation of Labor relative to the Mexican situation and that this receive the endorsement of this convention.

The convention adopted these resolutions:

Whereas, The horrors and the burdens of the war which is now raging between the nations of Europe fall most heavily upon the wage workers and their families; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the American labor movement through the convention of the American Federation of Labor express its earnest desire for the early and equitable adjustment of the causes of the destructive conflict among the warring nations to the end that the sufferers may be relieved of the burdens placed upon them, and that human labor may be employed in constructive efforts for the advancement of human welfare.

Whereas, The world stands appalled by events in Europe which indicate a wanton disregard of advancing civilization and the temporary enthronement of savagery, a condition made possible only by the domination of militarism, accentuated by the continual presence of the outward evidences of the military power,

with its attendant drain on the wealth of the nations for the purpose of maintaining at a point of mechanical efficiency the tremendous engines of destruction designed for use in war, thereby affording a perpetual temptation to the rulers to put into use these weapons against mankind; and,

Whereas, The present exhibition of the potentiality of these modern armilaments for the purposes of destruction is such as transcends any experience of humanity and outdoes the wildest dream of death deliberately brought about by human agency, with the attendant misery and suffering that have been thrust upon hundreds of thousands of peaceful, industrious and thrifty people who were entirely innocent of any thought of war; and,

Whereas, This most impressive example must teach us but one lesson, the beauty and desirability of a peace that preserves order with honor, that conserves life and property and insures the pursuit of happiness, and that is the noblest end of man's endeavors; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we pledge our support to any plan which has for its purpose the bringing about of the disarmament of all nations to the furthest extent consistent with the preservation of law and order throughout the world.

Whereas, The whole civilized world is torn by the awful titanic struggle which is now devastating continental Europe, disturbing the commercial and industrial conditions of the whole world, submerging the nations of Europe in the shadows and horrors of war, touching sharply our sympathy and stirring the depths of our emotion; and

Whereas, All history has proved that trial by conflict does not result in permanent peace when it does not establish justice as its foundation of those agencies which seek to regulate the relations between men that justice may prevail; and

Whereas, Political experience shows that the welfare and the interests of all the people are promoted in proportion as they are represented in the government and the government is responsive and responsible to them, it is necessary that the workers have a will and an effective voice in determining international relations; and

Whereas, The workers of every age had special and imperative reasons for advocating and endeavoring to secure provisions insuring the maintenance of peace with justice, since upon them fall the burdens of actual warfare and the real fighting in the ranks, while the hardships and the suffering accompanying war following it are felt most keenly and most palpably by them and those dependent upon them, and the costs of war ever fall disproportionately upon their already inadequate resources; and

Whereas, The workers of all countries have been leaders in protesting against injury and violence to human life in peace as well as in war, and against the cruelty and the waste of needless war, and they have steadfastly endeavored to rouse the general public to realize the enormity of war, thereby rendering public opinion alert and sensitive to the responsibility of all men for the existence of war, and, moreover, the workers have been inspired to assist in constructive movement for the prevention of wars, whereby peace may be maintained with justice; and

Whereas, The organized wage workers of the civilized nations have established fraternal relations for the purpose of binding together the trade unions of all countries for the promotion of common interests and ideals, and by frequent and regular communication, co-operation and exchange of representatives have brought about an understanding and sympathy between the organization and their members in the various countries, relations which are necessary for the inception and the continuance of peace; and

Whereas, Out of the experience of these workers, out of their burden bearing and their wrongs, out of their hopes and their victories, have developed principles of justice and the conviction that the establishment of these principles as

practical forces in the lives of the workers, is conditioned upon establishing dependable representative agencies for the realization of purposes and agreements determined upon; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we, the delegates of the organized labor movement in America, express and hereby convey to the organized labor movements of Europe fraternal greetings and our sympathy with their great suffering and distress, and that we express our most earnest hope for the early cessation of the terrible warfare now desolating the lands, destroying the families and impoverishing the nations of our fellow-workers; and be it further

Resolved, That we desire that fraternal relations between national labor movements shall continue with no more interruption than shall be absolutely unavoidable during the war, to the end that our regular intercourse and co-operation shall be resumed immediately at the close of the war; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention of the American Federation of Labor, in view of the general Peace Congress which will no doubt be held at the close of the war, for the purpose of adjusting claims and differences, hold itself in readiness and authorize the Executive Council to call a meeting of representatives of organized labor of the different nations to meet at the same time and place, to the end that suggestions may be made and such action taken as shall be helpful in restoring fraternal relations, protecting the interests of the toilers and thereby assisting in laying foundations for a more lasting peace; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be sent to the International Federation of Trade Unions, to all national trade union centers throughout the world and to the President of the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the official views of the organized labor movements enumerated be ascertained and their co-operation invited in order to carry into effect the purposes of the resolution.

International Relations in 1915

From report of Executive Council, San Francisco Convention, November, 1915:

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND WAR

When the Executive Council made its report to the Philadelphia Convention, the European war had been in progress for several months. The horrors, the destruction and the waste of war were all so new that they were like a terrible weight on the spirits of all. The waste of human life, the brutality and the butchery, seemed so horrible as to be well-nigh impossible.

But the months that have passed have revealed the tenacity of purpose involved in the war, the grim determination to fight the struggle to some definite decision, yet every day and every month of the war have demanded their toll of human blood and human life and the suffering of those left at home.

The purpose and the method of war are a direct reversal of the purpose and the ideals of peace. Human beings are merely the agencies for carrying on war-they are the centers about which activities for peace revolve and for whom all of civilization and all of progress exist. With the beginning of hostilities, civilized life has been completely revolutionized and the affairs of life have been put upon a war basis. Those things which do not help in the destruction of the enemy or for their own protection and defense are, for the time being, neglected by the warring nations. All of science, literature, music, and art that do not have some direct bearing upon the war or conduct of war seem to have disappeared completely from the thoughts of those who are intent upon destroying the armies of the enemy. Out of all this grim and deadly hostility there have grown an intensity of feeling, racial prejudice and bitterness that make all efforts at peace impractical and futile for the present. America has maintained a policy of isolation from entangling alliances and has kept free from the diplomatic jugglery that has involved so many European countries in wars. Our situation and physiography have aided this purpose. It has been our most earnest desire since the beginning of this European war to maintain our country free from any dispute that would involve us with any of the warring nations and so enable us to maintain an impartial attitude that would deserve the respect and the trust of each and every nation. Through such a policy we hope to be in a position to use our national power and influence to take advantage of any opportunity to secure peace and to establish conditions of equity and justice between nations.

However, the economic ties that bind together the nations of modern civilization are so strong, so numerous and so interwoven, that the life and the affairs of any one country necessarily affect all other countries, and it is impossible for any nation to maintain isolation. The countries of the world have intimate international relations. Finances have international centers. There are common storehouses and common factories in all the nations. These ties can not be severed wholly or partially without bringing well-nigh incredible suffering upon the peoples of the countries concerned. The outbreak of the war interfered with many of the industries and occupations of Europe. These peoples became increasingly dependent upon the stores and resources of the United States and other countries. As a result, our foreign commerce was completely changed in character. The products that we sent abroad had to be adjusted to meet new demands and new needs. This necessitated change and readjustment in the industries of the United States. We found that we were unable to obtain many things for which we had depended upon European countries.

This period of readjustment in the winter of 1914 meant to the wageearners of the United States unemployment for many and all of the evil consequences of unemployment. But with the readjustment there came to many industries great opportunities for the sale of their products abroad, opportunities to produce the things that were necessary to supply the needs of the warring nations. As our country had maintained a policy of political neutrality, it was necessary also to maintain a policy of commercial neutrality and the products of our factories and our fields were open to purchase by the buyers of any nation. The fortunes of war made commercial intercourse with our country easier for some nations than for others. The nature, the extent and the direction of our commerce have almost completely changed during the months that the war has been in progress.

It was necessary for the protection of American citizens to continue our foreign commerce. There has developed in this country and in some other countries a conscience that is extremely sensitive to the effects of our foreign commerce. According to this concept, commerce that supplies nations with certain products becomes, in some degree at least, responsible for the war itself and for the loss of life. Those who have this conviction feel that an embargo should be put upon such products, and that all trade should be forbidden in these things which enable Europe to continue the struggle.

But these persons do not consider fully the disastrous effects upon the workers of our country as well as upon all of the citizens that would come from such a restriction and discrimination of trade which would result in closing so many industries and would quickly reduce thousands of men, women and children of our country to starvation. There is no middle ground, for it is impossible to distinguish between munitions of war and the ordinary articles of commerce. Cotton, automobile trucks, horses, mules, are normal and necessary agencies for the cultivation of peace-they are also necessary agencies in carrying on war. Should we make any attempt to differentiate we would be involved in an interminable dispute over the possible purpose to which materials can be put. All nations are now turning to America as the great producer of food, clothing, and the necessities of existence.

Although it is recognized that these supplies from America do in a sense enable the foreign countries to carry on the war, yet it is also recognized that we have no right as a nation to interfere with the right of any other nation to determine in what manner it shall uphold its demands for justice. So long as nations are free and independent, so long as they shall maintain national self-respect, they must have the right to determine as they seem best the things which affect them directly and intimately. As Americans we believe fully in freedom. If nations are to remain free they can not be forced or coerced by other nations, even in the matter of peace.

There are evils and horrors which result from war, but there are also evils and horrors that result from a despotism that denies people and nations freedom to work out their own best welfare according to their own highest ideals. We respect neither an individual nor a nation who forgets his or its rights merely for the sake of maintaining peace. Individuals or nations who consciously permit a right to be denied establish a precedent of injustice that affects all others. We do not condemn individuals or nations that have fought nobly for ideals and for rights. On the contrary, we glory in their courage and in their convictions and in the noble fight they have made. Had our forefathers preferred peace to justice, we would not now have the ideals and the institutions of freedom that exist. So now in our attitude toward European nations and the European war we must have in mind justice for America's citizens as well as our desire to restore peace.

Peace can not be restored until the European nations are willing. There have been in the last year sentiments and movements for peace that have been