Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-21
B HOG ISLAND CAMPAIGN

~ DOUBT IL citizens generally appre-
Sz3 ciAte the magnitude of tho operation
~ Hog Island. We have grown so accus.
~1o4 to the term billions when applied to
46o1ey and millions when applied to men
1k our minds find it difficult to grasp the
3S4{ meaning Of figures. There have not
Sni ithree-quarters of a million Gays since
<1fjgt was born, and there is a man in
|rkhls IN Europe for every hour that has
&g4d since Caesar bridged the Rhine.
M 3t1ere are employed now at Hog Island
1r6 than 10000 men. There will he
b 11p1oyed between 10000 and 10000 men.
xbqy will constitute the organization be-
x1p4 the greatest shipmaking establish
11ent the world has ever known or is likely
s041r to know. We shall have to invent
,1oW adjectives adequately to describe the
o0{erprise. Yet the work at Hog Island
WIN only be the putting together of the
tNSrk done by thousands of men elsewhere,
lorl tho steel plates will come ready for
.p1accment and the great engines which are
,4o drive this mighty new fleet will also be
Manufactured elsewhere.
We could wish that the Government
we're able to establish an orde' Of merit to
>a1utingu.sh those men who take part in the
ential war industries. They are as
1nuch q part of the national fighting forces
n any troops at the front. We could wish
4 - that among the men themselves there
= kht come into being an esprit de corps
1Sarable to that usually noted in the
~ army. The high salaries paid in
days. and very properly paid enable
)|ed workers to earn as much in three
I ~ ~ they previously earned in six. 1t
5SGld be q grievous thing If this tempted
<G8m TO be idle on working days. 1t will
~ 10 man any harm to put some money
1do. Moreover. there is a distinct and
&1barent duty resting on every workman
|l61k 1t home. His work is no less impor-
}6nf than that of his brother in arms but
Ho does not have to bite his way through
~ Inferno in France and he remains at
lDFne with his people
y That man is a Stacker who gives one
'oUuce less of his strength to the industrial
Vrrk OF the nation than he is able faith.
E0lly to give. A citizens heart should
3hrcb and his pride rise in him to think
at the rivets he drives are the rivets
.<&at make possible transportation of sup
lD1iog. that spell defeat for the submersi-
49, and render certain the overthrow Of
IN Kaiser and his infamous philosophy. No
1CCtlnel on duty is charged with graver
pnsibilities than are the men to whom
xlntrusted the building of the great
( 10 which We propose to launch. 1t is a
"a which the elements of patriotism are
k1ed- 1t is a peculiar thing that the
I OF the place on which the defeat OF
1ocricy and autocrats SO largely depends
1<Id bear the truly humble and demo-
m name Of Hog Island. But every
~ Who works there is doing his part to
~ hat name in the history books of CEN
|11S3te 70 come and render its reputation
il>p6 61ishable.
ftWo are getting back to brass tacks now.
~ to the situation where efficiency is no
px matter Of argument. but is an
-nte necessity. We cannot waste our
u. The man who does the man who
Hsly Is idle. is a waster of wheat, a
of meat. in part a parasite and
enemy Of his friends at the front.
0oes not work now only for wages
~ helps in an essential war industry
y also for glory also for patriotism
- for democracy. He carries no
e his hand. but he forges a weapon
defeat OF Kaiserism. Let citizens
pdelphia consider workers at Hog
and other shipbuilding plants as
of the Cause. worthy OF the re.
&4o 10 soldiers and certain to per.
ctr several duties with the courage
hf,ilness Of soldiers
the great. important and perhaps
6osmpaigns Of the war the under.
Hog Island deserves a place.
= must 90 over the top and into
~ on time