The sun., 1917-05-27
BRITISH LABOR MEN
URGE COOPERATION
Visiting Delegates Say Govern
mcnt Should Take Labor
Into It's Confidence.
WANT LAWS UNCHANGED
J. II. Thomas Warns That
Ending the War Will BE :
No Light Task.

eminent would take labor into It's conf
the prosecution OF the war was voiced by
the four representatives OF British la
tor now in this country at mass meet
ing in De Witt Clinton High School au-
mentary luncheon rendered them earlier
I'm the day. The quartet. which included
James II. Thomas, NJ. T., general secre-
ury Of the National Union of Railway
men Of Great Britain and Ireland the
Right Hon. C. w. Bowerman. NJ. p,
priyy councillor and secretary Of the
British Trades Union Congress Parlia-
mentary Committee; II. w. Garrod, rep
resenting labor in the Department of the
Ministry Of Munitions, and Joseph Da-
yies. member of the secretariat of Pre-
mier Lloyd George. told good sized audi
sncee at both meetings OF the accomplish
ments OF British trade uniionists In the
conduct OF the war.
Mr.\ Thomas, at the evening meeting,
aaid It was but natural for British labor
to support a war waged on behalf of
downtrodden Belgium. inasmuch as the
one thing trades unionists insisted on
was the fulfilment Of contract Britain
had contracted to guarantee Belgium's
integrity; 1t was. therefore. the duty Of
all Britons to help her keep her guar
sntee, in spite of the reverse action on
the part Of Germany. another signatory
On the ether hand. the speaker con-
tended, there should be no slackening
Of labor laws in time of war. particularly
those relating to the employment OF
minors "A victory obtained by driving
little children into the factory and mill
would be robbed of much of its glory"
he pointed our
His colleague. Mr.. Bowerman. was
roundly applauded for a tribute to Presi-
dent Wilson. to whom ne had been in
troduced in Washington. Hugh Frayne,
chief organizer for the American Fedora
ton of Labor in this district. presided.
Thomas Urges Economy.
you have not got a light Job on
hand" warned Mr.. Thomas. when Au-
gust Belmont. the toastmaster. called
upon him. ''If this war lasts. and you
are going to do all you are capable of
doing. all we expect you to do. all we
know you will do. many OF these lunch
cons will have to be abandoned. You
are wasting too much food and will have
b economize. We want nothing wasted
IA one part Of the world which can be
utilized in another"
Relations between capital and labor
were never more cordial than now, Mr..
Thomas went on to say. ITO our ever
lasting credit" he said, "Britons showed
that there were no differences in the face
Of the common enemy. The result has
been that there has grown up a better
understanding than ever before"
Abiding to the airship raid OF the
night before. Mr.. Thomas admitted 1t
was. according to reports, the worst that
had yet been made. I'VE do not know
vhsSher our own have suffered from It."
b added, but we do know that. what
ever the sacrifice, II will not deter us
from exacting justice from the murder
ers Of our women and children. Our
reprisalsy though, will not take the form
Of numbering women and children. We
cannot compete with our enemies In
that. When this war is over we want
our hands to be as clean as to the
methods we used in its prosecution as to
the circumstances that led up to It,
Labor's Aid Appreciated.
Before coming to this country. said
Mr.. Bowerman. the next speaker. he had
imagined that capital was all important;
but" he added. 'it has remained for
American labor to show its strength In
the right way. American aid at the
start Of the war was greatly appreciated
BY us: We are vastly indebted to your
manufacturers and TO your workmen.
81 am great believer in the moral
effect of the entry OF the United States
into the war The first American nag
unfurled in France will strike dismay
into the hearts Of the German authori-
ties and soldiers" He closed with ex-
nrtf tll
labor mission had been helpful. in some
small way In bringing capital and labor
together here.
The two other members Of the party.
Mr.. Garrod and Mr.. Davies. spoke
briefly, the latter. amid much laughter
and applause paying a glowing tribute
to New York.
When first I saw it." he confessed,
VI felt as the middle Western farmer
OF puritan!cal mould did when he first
sazed upon 1t. After mature reflection
ne sighed sadly. Why didn't come
here before I got religion""
With a plea for increased output from
America in the next six months Mr.
Davies concluded the speaking for the
visitors. He said the next half year
would prove the most crucial period of
the whole war. and laid emphasis OH the
need for rapid building Of ships. Samuel
NoHpefs, president OF the American RED
GRAFTON OF Labor. made brief speech of
appreciation Of the British visit and told
OF the good it had accomplished.
"keep Home Fires BURNING"
Letters OF regret from Mayor Mitchell
and from " Everit Macy, president OF
the Civic Federation. were read. the lat
tor provoking a hearty ovation when 1t
disclosed that Mr.. Macy had absented
himself In order to speed his son Off to
france for duty in the ambulance corps.
Miss Donna Easley rendered the Brit
ish war song Keep the Home Fires
Burning" and led In the singing Of 1.-THE
star Spangled Banner"
Just as Mr.. Belmont was about to de-
clare the meeting adjourned Mr.. Thomas
broke In with request: "Oh. do let's
sing Aud Lang Syne' before we leave"
so Aud Lang Syne" 1t was-hands
Joined all around the speakers table In
representation of hands across the sea"
Those at the speakers table besides
,ne guests included Oscar. g. Straus,
Msurice Sheldon Amos. munitions ex-
pert OF the Balfour commission; Warren
=. stone. grand chief of the Interns tional
tbfo'herhood of Locomotive Engineers
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