Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-03
T.R. DENOUNcES
men WHO SLACK
IN SHIPYARDS
Individual Loafers and Others
Who Retard Production
Called Traitors by
the Colonel.

Newburgh, n. ! Sept 2.-Slackers
in American shipyards who loaf in
dividually and unions Of shipbuilders
which limit the output OF ships were
denounced by Theodore Roosevelt
today as traitors to the country.
Colonel Roosevelt delivered an ad-
dress on the oceasic Of the launching
from the Newburgh shipyards Of the
first of ten vessels, each of 5000 tons
dead weight, which are to be built
here for the United States shipping
board.
Colonel Roosevelt expressly ex-
cmpted the employees of the local
yard from his denunciation by saying
that he understood that warm spirit
OF helpfulness and cooperation has
been developed here. Emphasizing the
patriotic service rendered by ship
builders, the colonel said:
"A Stacker in our shipyards is as
shameful a creature as coward in
the army in France, and good work
er in the shipyards stands honorably
forward like a good soldier in the
army. ! have come here to New
burgh largely because my inquiries
have convinced me that here there
has been no organized limitations Of
output and practically no loafing. |
am convinced that, generally speak
ing, there is fine spirit Of patrio-
tism in shipbuilding labor in all parts
of the country.
Would Send Siackers Over.
"Yet it has been alleged to me
that in certain yards men have loafed
individually and that in certain yards
unions have actually limited the out
put so as to limit the number of rivets
driven in day, or to limit the num-
Der of days that they work, or in
other ways to prevent the develop
ment OF our full strength and our ut
most speed. Such men are traitors to
the country.
IF had my way would
take any such man and any
man who aided Or abetted him. put
him in the army at once and send
him across the water to do the hard
est work in the most dangerous po-
sition: and ] would not give him a
rifle until he had learned the spirit
Of patriotism. Any man who lays off
now or scamps his job is traitor
% his fellow Americans in France,
.raitor to the men who need all the
nelp we can give them. On the
,ther hand you, who ] am convinced
'epresent the enormous majority OF
he shipyards workers, you who are
loing your utmost night and day, |
week in and week out, stand on the |
lonor roll Of American citizenship as
second only to our troops in France,
and | honor you. | am proud beyond
measure that l am your fellow coun-
trynan.
y ! Limited Output a Crime.
3 "Thc army we have in France has
,cen put there only because the Brit |
sh furnished us 90 per cent Of the |
onnage needed to ferry them across
rem now on American shipbuilders
must bear this burden. Therefore
ny limitation OF output in our ship
ards is a crime against the country.
sny union rule or workmer's agree
nent to limit the output in shipyards
hould be treated as criminal at this |
inc. Pershing's men are not limit |
ng their output. Shame and disgrace
'hould be the portion of any man who
lere at home limits the output nee
,ssary to make the blood and labor
II our soldiers at the front Of avail
IT is the patriotic duty OF men in
The less essential industries to leave
those industries and to come to the
shipyards and to place their technical
skill at the service of their country
ii the way which will best help to win
the war. Shipbuilding is the neck
OF our industrial bottle so far as this
war is concerned. Let every man
Iii to work in shipyard 60 to the
shipyard nearest, to him to help out
in our great need for skilled labor"
Colonel Roosevelt declared that no
profitecring whatever should be al
lowed out of war industry. In asking
labor to do its utmost, capital should
be held by the government to the
same standard