The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-01-30
labor UNIONS AND
WAR WORK TOGETHER
FRENCH EXPERT SAYS THEIR RE-
LAI,oMs ARE ALTOGETHER
caeo,rAsLe.

Paris, jan, 30.-The relations OF
the labor unions to the war has been
altogether creditable to them, accord
ing to M. Marck, treasurer of the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor Unions of the Seine.
He said the government had always
been nervous about labor unions in
case of war. and as the anti-militarist
campaign had reached alarming pro-
portions it was thought serious ques-
ton what might be the extent of de-
fections In case of an outbreak.
I That this had been a false alarm of
fear was evident from the fact that
three hundred thousand trades-union-
ists-not revolutionists- have raised
their voices against the agressor.
"The militant union leaders are now
too much occupied in the trenches.
and at other points where there's
patriotic work to do. to think of the
fight between labor and capital he
said.
But" he added, because we're do
ing our duty it will be a mistake to
suppose that after it's over we shall
disarm and abandon our fight for the
eight hour day and the Saturday half
holiday: the fighting. in my opinion,
VIII then be hotter than ever.
"But that is for later on. Just now
we are too busy distributing tickets
for meals to unemployed. and we are
short Of help for most of the union
leaders are at the front; many of
them have proven by giving their
lives to the cause that they were as
much patriotic as those who were
denying them the right to be so-called.
"Chalopin. of the School Teachers
Union. has been killed, as well as Re-
nault of the Railroad Mems Union,
while Capy. of the Jewellers Union,
has lost his two legs. f c
TITS not only the younger union
men who are serving their country:
the older ones are doing their part in
different ways: five thousand of the
navvies were recruited in one day to
hustle the work of intrenching the
army of Paris when the Germans
were on their way toward the gates
Of the city. and they all went cheerful.
ly without a murmur: they slept in
the open, just as the soldiers do. and
they rushed through the work so that
II Won Kluck had ever gotten within
gunshot of the outer trenches. he
would have received a disagreeable
surprise.
Another. and far more disagree
able duty performed by the navvies
union was the burying of the ahon
doned German dead on the field Of the
battle of the Marine.
"Ir .ae relief work we are doing
Il has cost US nothing at all to take
oar seats In the Commission side with
the police. represented by Lepine
with the priests, represented by Cardi
nal Annette, with the Jews, represent
ed by the Grand Rabbi Of Paris, the
Protestants. represented by Rev
Charles wagner-men representing
ali the sects, while all the opinions
and all sides of every conflicting issue
Of life are working tremendously t
relieve the distress Of war; the de
tails devolve upon us because we arr
organized. When 1t came to distrib
uting relief. we told the committee
that If they woull let US go at 1t Will
our organization. we would answer
for the result; in 48 hours II section!
of our federation were ready and w
distributed 5000 repasts the thirt
day; today we are distributing 100000
meals day, and it is all done by tick
ct, SO that we may be certain the re
lief goes to the right place.
"Our fund today amounts to sever
million francs. and our monthly out
lay is about 100000 francs. divided
between 225 different soup houses. o