Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-07
What Doth II Profit . Man"

the conference Committee on Ma
tlonal Preparedness" Of which Henry
4 Wise Wood is chairman has issued
the following 70 the working men Of
this country:
Germany is working. Dy every scheme
that ingenuity can devise and money
can put into operation to make Amer
ttan worknsmen traitors to their
CCuntry H. i:s hour Of need
What doth il profit man II he sends
liz .sons and brothers to the battle
fields, and after ne gets them there ne
betrays them to the enemy by stopping
the Industrial home work without
which they can neither win nor escape"
The courses OF nations-the lives OF
millionaire changed by very small
event, Haa toe Monitor not been
+, ady for tho Mcrrimac exactly when
she was, the Union feet would have
heen rendered useless and the civil
War might have had a different end
Ing Had someone then succeeded in
making serious trouble in d mine,
foundry. or shop-had someone then
succeeded in delaying transportation
while the Monitor was under construc-
ton, what would have become Of the
whole Union feet Of wooden ships
which was blockading the Southern
ports
Germany wants US to be unready or
confused when similar crisis comes.
Our whole nation is preparing for the
turning point in this war which IS to
determine whether every man shall
have chance to work out his destiny,
or whether he and his country are to
become subject to the dictation of a
pIussian group.
II We are not fully ready when the
test comes it viii be easier for German
armies and German ships, German sub
marines and German aircraft, to kill
the men that go out from your COM
munity to protect you and your
rights
Whoever from any motive delays
work bearing directly or Indirectly on
the. war will he an accessory to the
murder Of his fellow Americans.
Every strike in the United States,
while this war is in progress, is a blow
in favor Of Germany.
What doth it profit man to increase
his wages or decrease his working
the victory Of nation that makes
slaves OF white men and scourges them
as they work?
The condition Of the blacks in Amer
ica before the Civil War was far better
than the condition of the whites Of
Belgium who today are carried off like
cattle, are overworked. underfcd, beat
on and. sick well. must labor in
own guns.
What doth il profit man to aid a
monarch who is this manner has
shameIessly re-established the slavery
of white men? The workingman in
America who obstructs the cutting Of
wood. the mining Of fuel. the weaving
Of cloth, the turning Of wheels in fac
tories or on rails while this war is in
progress-he is helping the slave mas
ters, the destroyers Of civilization, the
niurdercrs Of WOMEN and children
What doth It profit a man who has
lived in 4 land of incompatible liber-
ties. OF advantages unparalleled in all
tie history Of the world. to contribute
by any act. however small to the sue
cess of an autocracy to whom a com
mon man is but clod Of earth?
The wOrkingman who stands faith
fully by his duties day by day. allow
ing no person and no thought 10 get
between him and honest performance
~ his work is rendering the highest
KIND OF patriotic service to his nation
and to his family.
What doth it profit man to sell his
manhood, his clf-respect. perhaps his
soul for little selfish gain in such an
hour? When life's services are meas
ured up at the end. those who have
faithfully lahored through the war shall
nc entitled to their credit as well as
hose who have led the charges in
attic.
What doth it profit q man who wants
TO improve the condition of aboring
nen If he gains a little but in so doing
prolongs the slavery Of Belgian work
ingmcn. who now cannot gain their
freedom hut by death. or through tho
victory Of the Allies?
stand by your work for your honor
and safety for the safety and success
o. your fellow -countrymcn who go forth
&c fight as well as for the sake of
~orkingmen who are now in actual
slavery beneath German slave drivers.