Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1917-12-08
UNION LABOR
COUNTRY'S AID
Head of Vast Organization of
Workers Tells of Good AQ-
compIiShed.
RALLIED TO PATRIOTIC DUTY
WITH war Incentive, Cooperation Be-
tween Employers and Employees
Has Become More Marked
Fair Principles Now Uni
VersaIIy Established.
By SAMUEL eoMpERS.

the growth in membership to more
than two and a half millions, by the
great extension Of industrial activities
in which union scales and conditions
are obligatory, Dy the governments
2yer-inCreasing recognition Of organ
izod labor, Or by the degree Of soli-
daiity.
Il IS 10 eyaEgeration to say there
nere- has been in all labor history
such & rupiG extension of the princi-
pies ana practices of industrial demo-
"rGcy as since the United States was
forced 10 enter the world conflict.
.AaG. mark this poinr--ln every case
this aztension has been made nol to
imneGp the u;ion's war preparations
but 10 accelerate them ~ promoting
co-C1erott0n between employers and
labor. Tho Initiative in this extension
GS democracy 10 industry hs9 been TAX
ep by oi2ao'2ed labor, bat It's wisdom
has IL every instance "ppe led 70 fed
craI 0Ictpls
Il fOLr grt&t branctes-Shipbuild-
ing, cantonment construction, nercan-
ttle marine ana longsnorc work
HgrC 2mer;a have beer perfected be-
tween the government. The employers
and labor 20 safeguard even the an
organized men Ties" agreements
have sotcr3 mp1t sanction because of
en ever-g1awing realization Of the nee
essity nui .0uiy for Industrial stability
but ior T. proper standard cf living as
the 0Gs!s For efficiency
.AIreecy the eight-h0ur law for gov
ernneut contracts has greatly eX-
tended Tho eight-hour day, for in many
branches there is hardly a firm not
working on government cOntruct.
Although many establishments are
now working nine or ten hours, the
basic eignt-hcur day is in effect and
the payment of time and q half for
overtime beyond eight hours is a sUtfi-
ctent check on the employment Of men
ynorp than eight botrs, except in cases
Of genuine emergency such as the pres
ant
I tredicf the wars end will find the
{ EI' tlOCI Gay bItt'Nl'I'lE t''Ii' - '7''i 80
AmeTicaG Industry, rs the result not OF,
any spectacular general strike" but
OF the recognition, at the insistance of
organized labor, that in the long run
more end better worl; can be produced
in eight hours than in any longer pc
riod.
There is a rapidly growing recogni-
ton that workers are the true basis or
national strength. If lGbor's hand is
rot strong, sldlifuI and willing not a
ship will sail, not gun Will roar.
Through this recognition labor VIII as
sumo a new status in the nations
councils
HCm@ of our American 'SoiSheVlN
"E the Socialist party, OF the So-calleu
Peoples council anG other slInl!ar II
roSp0nsiOleS, undertook campaign TO
SWerve American labor from the
standard OF loyalty to sell ana coun-
~.
Their futile efforts nave only deh-
onstrated that among all the millions
of American workers there were only
- handful mean or silly enough TO JOIN
ihe traitorouS pl2a.
ii cannot TOO often be eInphaSlHeu
;hnt American W2rklnginen are con
c"rncG in this great struggle not only
as Americans, but as workers. 1ho|
nu9t Ae!p destroy HohenzollerhlSIl' hol
"nly because it Nenaced America an"
'cmcrracy, but because the workers
more than any other class stand 70
sHiter by the triumph OF PrusslaHiS'h'
10 the capitalist II need matter lit-
lie in what country ne IVES ms
wealth eXaltS him above the laws an"
holltical government OF any country
With the worker the existence OF &
military absoludAm is OF daily con
corn. Whether he is the slave OF tho
state, rs in Prussia, or whether the
state is his servant, determines ms
whole existence. Therefore labor mas
mohi!i2ed for an early ana IaStlhS
ncacH.
Il must he recognized, however that