The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1918-01-18
WAR SERVICE BY
ALL, IS DEMAND
Industrial Efficiency Requires 1t,
Says United Mine Work
erS' Paper.
NO TIME TO REMAIN IDLE
Where There is Possibility of Peaceful
Negotiations Between Operators
and Employees, Production
Must Be Maintained.


We do not desire to be the prophet
of calamity. We know that wars ter
rors brought home to the people of
this country will only serve as spur
to their determination to eradicate the
institutions that have brought these
horrors upon the world and upon our
erstwhile peaceful homes, But it is
our hope, at least to some degree, to
forewarn of what must inevitably en-
sue, says the United Mine Workers
Journal.
And with this purpose-that we may
today, now, begin tc ask each of him.
self: "What can l do? How can
serve, that at least some of these dis
asters may be averted"
The time has passed for visionizing
an ideal world where the nations shall
be as fellow-citizens of well-gov-
erned state. We are brought to face
the fact that we must even fight to
hold what measure of progress, of lib
erty, the world has so far been able
to achieve. The time has also passed
when citizens of this country, or the
aliens within its gates, who would not
be classed as enemies, may with honor
question the why OF this country's par
| ticipation in the war. We are in this
war; we cannot withdraw with honor
| or even with safety. Cries for peace
now are interpreted as signs of weak
ness; the enemy is powerful, and de-
| spises weakness.
To return to the boys who have
marched away; when their training is
completed they will be sent to the
| blood-drenched trenches of Europe. We
expect them to do their part, to give
all that is in them and of them. We
do not idealize war" but we, no
more than others, respect or admire a
shirker in the face of the foe. We
know our boys at the front will give
the service expected of them.
We cannot all serve on the battle
front. Modern warfare requires indus
trial efficiency. Victory can only come
as the result of active devotion on the
part of the men behind the men behind
the guns.
Il When shall we begin to give that
war service that is required of us?
When the casualty lists come in? Ii
will need no urging then! But now
What right has any worker to slack
now when his failure may mean want
and disaster to the men already at the
front, the men who viii soon be at the
front? No time to quibble now. What il
part of our products go to Frenchman
Briton or Russian? These are the peo
pie who are carrying on while we are
getting ready; what they fail to &C
complish will be up to our boys; there
is no turning back.
Coal is the source of power for prac
tically all of the industries engaged Ii
supplying war necessities to those nov
, on the battle front, to those who soor
will bear the brunt. No miner has th'
right to lie idle when able to work anC
, opportunity offers to work. The gov
, ernment of this country recognizes thu
: right of the workers in the mines to {
fair recompense for arduous anC
hazardous labor. There are only {
) few operators who today prefer to hu
NOR their ill-founded prejudice
, against organization, who discharge O
discriminate against those of their mel
, who exercise their right to join witt
] their feilow-workers to protect thei
living conditions; these we are com
f PEELED to meet on the ground they hav
= chosen.
But this is no time to attempt t
E alleviate minor wrongs by laying tn
] mines idle. Such action would be de
: sertion, desertion Of the men who hav
4 been chosen or have volunteered t
: serve on the battle front.
Where there is possibility of peace
! able negotiation between representa-
I tiyes of the miners and of the opera
tors the mines can and must be KEEP
to the highest possible productiv
: point. Each miner must be brough
to realize that his daily product Is th
country's need. To lie idle now, witt
out urgent reason, is to falter in tn
: face of our country's necessity; in th
full view of the country's foes.
Try to realize now the meaning 3
war. Visualize our boys in th
trenches. freezing hungry, lacking wa