The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-07-12
HOW ENGLISH SEE
WAR IN AMERICA
Leaders Say Labor Backs
Fight, According to
London Observer

An excellent impression was made
everywhere in America, we under
stand, by ]. H. Thomas and Mr.. Bow
erman, who accompanied Mr.. Bal
tours mission as the representative
of British labor. Mr.. Thomas, the
general secretary of the National
Union of Railway men, gave in an
interview an account of his exper-
fences and spoke of the value of the
visit.
"When," he began, "the govern
ment decided that Mr.. Balfour
should be asked to visit America the
American Federation felt that no
mission would be complete that did
not include labor. 1t therefore cab
led to the prime minister and, in ad-
dition, President Wilson urged that
labor from this side should be invit-
ed. Hence the governments invita-
ton to myself and Mr.. Bowerman.
"On our arrival in America we
found the labor movement there, as
it is here, overwhelmingly behind the
government. They were anxious to
see how far they could assist in the
prosecution of the war and at the
same time protect the interests of
the workers, which, after all, is the
special business of the trade union
lists. We therefore felt that our
first business was to ascertain the
exact relationship between employ
ers and employees.
lowing to the fact that labor is
not SO thoroughly organized in Amer
lea as it is here and there are so
many nationalities involved, we
found that they had not the same
kind of arrangement as we have for
official negotiations. We therefore
arranged conferences, national and
local, of organized labor, and invited
the employers to be present.
Discussion With the President
"The result was that we succeeded
in establishing committees on both
sides, whose special object will be to
endeavor to work out a plan for
dealing with every problem as it
arises, and in so far as we were able
to get both sides to recognize that
the interest of the state is supreme,
! am certain that good will accrue.
In fact, it was a revelation to see the
largest employers of labor as we'll
as men like Mr.. Rockefeller, who has
a controlling interest in industry,
rising at our meetings, and declaring
their anxiety and determination to do
all they possibly can.
"The government fully recognized
the necessity of taking organized la
Dor into its confidence, and we were
privileged on two occasions to adj
dress the War Cabinet, as we'll as to
have private interview with the
President. We placed before them
information of every kind of legis-
lation which it has been necessary to
introduce in this country since the
war.
1--WE did not hesitate to point out
what is generally admitted, that we
made many mistakes on all sides
our object being that they should
profit by our experience. We also
addressed large meetings in all parts
of the country. In one place alone
l spoke to upwards of 10000 per-
sons. Everywhere we were satisfied
not only that the visit was necessary
but also that it did good.
"All sections of the people were ig-
norant Of the sacrifices the old coun-
try had made and is still making.
They were amazed when we told
them how our men and women of all
classes had responded to the calls of