The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-09-29
WOrkingman and the War
BY OR. FRANK CRANE
Copyright 1915 by Frank Crano)
az on. FRANk cRANE

II is refreshing 90 note that the labor
unions of the country are stanch in their
patriotism.
They are not fools. They understand
that no calamity could befall their class
comparable to the triumph of the Ger
man arms Bad as the laborers may
sometimes think their lot TO bee in Amer
lea, they know it would Toe infinitely
worse were the system and principles OF
autocracy 20 be established here by vic
toriouS Junkerdom.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation Of Labor and GER
tainly entitled to speak for the laboring
man here said on Labor Day:
81 am pacifst-that is. was until
President Wilson asked congress to de
clare war Now would betray the great
body of workngmen which / represent
did not urge them 10 give their last
full measure Of devotion 10 the cause of
world freedom
Men, women and children have been
murdered by ruthless power that is to-
lay seeking world domination II is the
duty Of every man and woman In America
10 give the best that Is in them whether
IN the field Of battle or in the shop-to
bring about the destruction of that pow
er
- On Lha-zalne -a.4l-I -ai-nl StlIeS- SecIe-
tary Of Labor William b. Wilson used
these words in an address:
American wage-earners have more
at stake than any others, and if gauge
the timber of wage-workers of our coun-
try rightly and | think / DOS per
cent of them will die in the trenches or
On the field rather than to permit the
kaiser to- establish his rule over the
United States.
There is a small element a compara-
lively small element composed principally
Of people who have not national spirit.
who are in opposition to the conduct Of
this war But say TO you, my friends.
that there is not a labor organization in
the country composed Of wage-workers
and managed by wage-workers that has
not already given a clear intimation that
it is heart and soul with the adminstra-
ton in the conduct of the war
Whatever may be our grievances in
this country, and there must always be
grievances discoverable To those who
would make constant progress. he would
be fool indeed who would want 10 ex-
change the wages the general respect,
and the open door Of opportunity which
the workingman has in the United States
for the condition of'the poor helots whom
the Prussian officers are now lashing for
ward 10 the trenches.
The recent report Of Or. John p. An
drews, secretary of the American ASso-
citation for Labor Legislation shows also
that war has failed to check the course
IF laws toward the betterment of labor
conditions, that state legislatures have
generally strengthened labor acts wom-
en workers have made large gains, and
hours Of work have been shortened in
many occupations. Dr. Andrews states
that
Upon the entrance Of the United
States into the great world war legal
projections for workers were threaten
ed by an ill-adyised rush for results. But
the nationwide campaign. in which lead.
ing civic and labor organizations joined
forces, TO maintain existing standards in
the interest both Of maximum production
and Of human conservation. resulted in
notable success. Efforts 20 set aside la.
bor's hard-won standards 0n~~tbc/ mis-
taken plea Of war necessity have been
almost completely checked"