The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-02
A Labor-Day Message
To Americas Workers
by Samuel Gornpers.

Labor, day, 1917, dawns upon a
world convulsed in a titanic struggle
for fundamental rinciples--futura
world institutions are in the balance.
-o Our e~H- republic is sirding itself
for battle.
For nearly three years the strug
gle had bnen waged before our ma
ton was dra wn in--but our participa-
tion was made inevitable not only
by The manifold Inter- relations be-
tween nations but by the nature OF
democratic freedom and bureaucratic
despotism no nation could remain
neutral
No organization within the United
States has had more correct under
standing Of the issues and the dam
gers involved than the organized la
Dor movement and ne element ia
more important In enabling tho ma
ton to take effective part in defense
of our. position
nation preparing for war must
begin with its Industries. Since war
was declared the needs OF the gov
eminent have become of paramount
Importance in industry and com
merce. An economic reorganization
is taking place The economic center
has gravitated TO Washington and
the new eeonpmics make necessary
direct relations and an understanding
between workers and the govern
n1eut. The. government cannot deal
with these workers individually and
therefore must deal with their repre-
sentatives A representative capacity
is only possible where organization
exists. With this understanding the
American Federation Of Labor has
been trying TO protest the rights and
interests OF all workers by securing
the establish of agencies for
dealing with matters affecting those
engaged in. war production. r.
Problems growing out OF the work
are problems that affect the lives Of
workers They are therefore impor-
tant TO our nation and governme emit
not only from the standpoint OF ma
terial effectiveness but Of ideals A
government f1ghtinc for freedom and
democracy abroad must establish in
dustrial Justice In war production AT
home For worker are serving the
cause lust ms much as soldiers IN the
trenches-though not so conspicuous
~ or with such hazard.
The basis upon which our republic
should ask It's workers to give ser
vice is adequate representation Of all
agencies determining Eovernrn emit
plans and methods OF carrying them
into effect
Progress has been made toward
this end but the workers do not feel
that It has gone far enough to assure
the toilers their rights. Just meth
DDS for insurlng Justice to workers are
the only effective means by which
their united cooperation can be Sc
cured for the war and by which the
menace Of terrorism and industrial
anarchy can be removed,
The members OF organized labor
have demonstrated their patriotism
and their appreciat ton Of the coun-
trv's need. by their patience and
their appreciation of the country's
need by their patience and their
service even under conditions which
they could not Justify.
On this day dedicated 70 labor
the thoughts OF all workers may we'll
be directed TO this problem which in
wolves both humanity and country
II Is problem that is OF fundamen-
tai importance In securing democrec
and freedom the world over The
new world relations which labor
hopes 20 create through the ipstru-
mentality OF this war must bring
freedom and humanity in the vital
affairs OF life the world over
Let every worker and every labor
organization on this day plan for the
by effective practical demonstration
and action.
The clouds OF war hover above us