Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-24
Give VERY SOULS
TO WIN the WAR
SAYS GoMPER,
Suggests Seventh on,
Day to Conserve Co.l
and Relieve Conges.
tion-Says Labor H.,
BOlsheViki

oO1Oi1S 1hl
indianapolis, Jan. GA pn.
seven-hour day during the per;os
the war instead of the present
modic suspension of industries nv. -.
fuel administration to conserve
and relieve railroad congestion W.,
suggested today by Samuel Conn.
president Of the American Federo.,
of Labor. in a speech to the conv..
ton OF United Mine Workers.
Labor's Message to Miners
Mr.. Gompers' speech to the mirs.
was regarded as labor's message .
the country on the action of the ~,
administration. He prefaced his d.
laration for a seven-hour day with
defense of those in high governmpsi,,
station who . might have made mi, |
takes. They were prompted, he sss
by the patriotic purpose to win N,
war and to think that the great trans.
ton from peace to war could be mad.
without mistakes was asking the i'm,
possible. Continuing he said:
THE order issued a few days ago
regard as an absolute necessity Ym
know there is now a discussion to re-
peal or modify the Sherman ent-truy
law. l am not going to offer any e.
cuse for the railroads; they have bee,
lax so long; but the Sherman anti.
trust law forbade them TO do Wha. nov
the director-gcneral has the right tO,|
day. The jam had occurred ard va,
increasing and something had to bal
done to relieve the situation.
Il think there Is one mistake in th
making and I trust it will be change
or modified. / refer. to the closing e
the industrial and commercial plan,
of our country one additional day ear
week. | think it is a mistake to havi
whole day such as Monday Idle 4
believe if the order We're changed n
that instead of there being 10. nine a
eight hours as a days work. the san.
power would proclaim a universal ser
en- hour day during the war, better II
suits would follow.
I'VE would have practically the san
results in the conservation of fuel al
all other needful commodities. n
would not do violence to history, I'll
traditions, the work and the praetiG
operation of industry and commerce
Il trust that the suggestion may fin
Judgment somewhere and bring abCU
that change; but If it does not, | an
going to obey like a soldier of Amer.
ca; l am going to yield my judgment
to the judgment and the actions 0.
the men in whose hands the destn'es
of our republic are placed"
No Neutrality in This War
Mr.. Gompers said there could be II
neutrality in this war. you have 60
to be either for autocracy or demo,
racy," he declared
Labor must make victory sure 70
democracy. he said. but he sounds
the warning that labor would not SUI
render the standards of life except
save the republic; that no sacritce
would be made solely to fill the poci
cts of the rich with large profits
1t was here that he defended me
in high places. On the train fro-
New York to Indianapolis. he said B
heard the names of many men sug
gested to take the places of those !
responsible governmental position
but not one of the men named,
added had ever done a public SERVE
or expressed a word of thought
behalf of labor. He mentioned n
names.
Mr.. Gompers defined Bolsheviki
mean group of men who were th
extremist of extreme maximalsts, me
who wanted all their dreams 10 com
about in one fell swoop
Labor Has Its BoIsheviki
After declaring that the car n b
palmiest days never did more har.
than the Bolsheviki had done" he re
minded labor that it had its Boisnev
Xxi in this country. He said thef
was one organization that had so cos
Quoted itself that it was now w,thol
power to make a showing. much les
n fight. While ne did not name II
organization, delegates said ne plainl
meant the industrial workers OF n
world.
Regrets He Cannot Fight
From the convention hall of the MI
crS, Mr.. Gompers went to the Capt'
where he spoke at the meeting of Il
Indiana State Council of Defense.
My only regret in the present sItu'
ton he said, lis that cannot ign
Ihey viii not take me But am SCI!
ing 10 the best OF my ability ! lev
too, That ! am having some fgc,eSs
appealing to our working people 10 y
whole-hearted support to our coiH'>
The result of the war depends
much upon production and tranSpoi"
ton as upon the men in the trenches'
hope it will not be necessary to 81
pend the laws or reduce the stahud.'
under which the working people OF IN
country have labored. But should th'
come a great drive, a great emerseh.
fatigue counts for nothing, HE H'.
counts for nothing as compared WI
the safety Of the republic and the !"
walton Of the ideals for when '"'
stand-they count for everything
Il want the workers Of this count
to be willing to give their all, wv
very souls, that we may win TINS We
J want employers to take them
council to advise with them anu
fair with them, that we may "o
shoulder 10 shoulder, fight side W I"
to make ar assured triumph TOT 'no