Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-07-22
Unions Helping In Germany.

From the beginning of the war the
German trade unions have proved a
strong help, rather than a hindrance,
| to the government in its efforts to
secure the highest efficiency in output
OF the various necessities of warfare.
The Cologne zeitung devotes a long
article to a tribute to the work of the
unions. 1t says. in part:
Among the many surprises and
dfsappointments which the present
war has brought our enemies, lead
ing place Is taken by the unanimity
with which the German nation, ire
spective Of party and of class, pick
up the gauntlet that was thrown down
before it. Our foes reckoned with
certainty that the dislike of war among
the great masses of the people, and
the consequent opposition to militarism
by the Socialists in the Reichstag,
would gravely hamper the mobiliza-
ton of the Army and Navy and lead
TO weakening of the German forces.
All these calculations proved erroneous.
complete recognition prevails that our
enemies were bent on the destruction
Of Germany-the same Germany that
has done more than any other civil
lied state for the welfare of the work
ing classes, especially by means of its
magnificent system Of national in
surance.
THE trade unions, the vast majority
of which are normally in direct oppo-
s1tion to the government and the Par
Iiamentary majority, have frankly de-
clared that the widely-ramif1ed social
institutions in Germany bind the Ger
man worknen more closely to national
| life as a whole than is the case with
the English or French worker. And,
indeed, the enemy states are so be-
| midland in this respect that the Ger
man workman does not ind it hard
| TO remain a (Larrnan hadxy
the feeling of community with the
German Empire thus strengthened by
social legislation has caused the rep
| resentatives of organized labor-the
trade unions-to set aside since the
outbreak of war all trade union in
terests and to throw into the scale
| their whole strength for the purpose
or bringing to a victorious issue a war
forced upon the German nation.
TN regard to industries which have
taken over the preparation of war mu-
n1t1ons, the trade unions made ar
rangements to mobilize all the labor
| REQUIRED partly by establishing courses
| OF instruction in the new work, and
thus ensuring the highest efficiency
in output. Whenever interests OF
state have demanded special increase
| IN labor. !, e. longer working hours
| the trade unions have put no hindrance
in the way. All strikes and wage agi-
tations were instantly cancelled
while the employers. on their part
suspended all lock-outs. To avoid
| fresh disputes between the masters
/ and the men. the unions have specially
| supported the arbitration committees
The unions have, of course, suf-
fered severely from the war, in that
| their subscriptions have fallen of, ow
ing to the calling up of members for
military service. On April 80, this
year. the number Of trade union
| misunderstanding represent AZ per cent
of all organized labor-serving with
the colors was s5s,247, or Alt PEI
| cent
The feeling Of solidarity between
masters and men, which has been sc
brilliantly demonstrated here, and ths
outspoken will Of the trade unions tt
work hand in hand with the authorities
and employers to surmount all eco.
nomic difficulties consequent of the
war, is due to the rapid adaptabi1ity
and to the drastic changes which have
taken place in our whole economic
life. Difficulties that seem Masquerade
have been overcome with ease Thii
unity Of effort guarantees the economic
1 victory, and at the same time
strengthens sthesconviction Of the Ger.
man nation In q happy issue Of the
war;"