The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-11-15
The PRESi0ehrT0 UKi1E LABOR.

Organized labor cannot fail TO be i'm
pressed by President Wilson's address
to the American Federation Of Labor
convention IN Buffalo, N. Y. The ques-
tion is will it be impressed Alright? Did
the delegates and will the union work
ingmen of the country understand the
President as he hoped to be understood?
1t cannot be gainsald that MIR. Wilson
took risk in framing his appeal to the
industrial forces of the United States
in the terms he chose. He spoke of,
to and for the ideal spirit of America.
We hope his words found Judgement as
intended, that they will terminate and
spring into that flower Of cooperation
to the advancement of our highest in
terests. in the war and peace both, of
which we are so much in want.
In 'counselling" rs he did with the
representative body of the greatest or
ganization of labor in the world,
President Wilson did a unique thing.
Perhaps it is necessary, at this time.
But was it necessary, polltic or wise,
to set organized labor apart as a class
especially deserving of the considera-
ton and gratitude OF the public and the
government? The statesman essayed
an appeal to patriotism; it is states
manlike to employ phrases which are
susceptible of Interpretation as tacit,
If not direct, approval of hatred of
"capitallsm?" To smooth the fur of
labor the while one prlds the other
party to our industrial might is not
Conducive to that accommodation and
mutual good will which must be relied
upon to promote the fullest measure of
justice and produce that sincere CO.
operation which is essential to cur sue
cess in the war and our happiness 10
peace. Stand together" must be our
slogan if we are to get anywhere as
nation fighting the hideous forces with
which we are in combat. But all OF US
must stand together. not merely Or
gained labor, not merely capitalists,
but labor and capital ard all others who
are AMERICANS IN spirit and in fact. In
singing out organized labor as a class
to be coddled the President came close
to questioning the patriotism of that
large fraction of the working people of
the United States.
while we are fighting for freedom
we must see, among other things, that
labor is free, and that means a number
of interesting things" said the Presi.
dent. He is right. But there are more
sides TO the question than the few he
enumerated. The nations necessities
must not be made the excuse for de-
pr.viDg labor of anything which it has
won nor of checking the Instrumental
ty which conditions of labor are i'm.
proved, he said. There is no likelihood
they will be. But the truce in the la
Dor struggle so desirable during the war
against autocracy is misnamed if it con-
templates sacrifice by one side only.
The real reason why labor of all kinds
should stand unitedIY behind the govern
ment in the war were stated by the
President in his exposition of the Ger
man system and the German war aims
as they would affect the industrialism
of the world were they established by
German success in the field They
clearly indicate our cause is the cause
OF all our people. We are hopeful that
organized labor will see it in that light.
1t would be deplorable, perhaps fatal to
our success, were it to construe the
President Swords as encouragement to
pursue Its selfish aims at time when
every Indictment should be of unselfsh
patriotism.