The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-18
SHIP BUILDERS
! END STRIKE AS
PATRIOTIC DUTY
Presidents Word to Carpenters
& \ Leader Is Final.
Will Resume Work and Discuss
Grievances Later.
LABOR ENDORSES WAR AIMS
A. +. L. Issues Declaration of
Loyalty to Government.
PruSSianism Must Be Crushed
Is Unions Slogan.

Washington, Feb. 1s-Shipping
board officials announced late today
that they had received assurances that
all the striking carpenters in eastern
shipyards would be back at work to-
morrow. A large number, they said.
mad reported for work today.
New York. Feb. 1S.-The strike of
Shipyard carpenters in various yards
along the Atlantic seaboard will be at
an end by tonight, according to state
ments here today by officers of the
EJnIted Brotherhood of Carpenters and
yoiners, who added that they believed
the majority of workmen would be at
their accustomed tasks by noon.
Within twenty minutes after Presi-
dent Wilson's telegram to William L.
Hrcheson. president of the brother
hood. had been received last night
energetic steps were taken by union
officers to notify all the workers to
Doey the wishes of the president.
President Hutcheson ordered 100 per-
sonal representatives to use the tele-
graph and telephone to reach every
one of the strikers. whose number has
been estimated at 5000.
While President Hutchinson declined
10 supplement- his reply to President
Wilson last night in which he said he
would use his influence to induce the
strikers to return. T. L. Guerin, a
member of the executive committee,
said
The president has spoken ana that
is enough. The men are going back"
5000 Returned This A. NJ.
About 5000 of the strikers returned
10 work this morning Mr.. Rice esti-
lnated. The men are going back
because they have every confidence
that President Wilson will adjust this
matter to their satisfaction" he said
In yards at Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Jersey City. Elizabethport, Newark
and New York about 5000 carpenters
quit work this morning. Mr.. Rice an
bounced because they were unaware
of the fact that VIM. L. Hutchinson,
. president of the brotherhood, had re-
sponded to President Wilson's letter
Of last night by announcing he would
endeavor to influence the strikers to
Resume work pending settlement OF
their grievances by the wage adjust
ment board.
MANY of these 5000 were later in
Formed of this situation and returned
t. the " rds. Mr.. Rice said, and dur
fns the day every effort would be
made to get in touch with the others.
Call Brooklyn Mass Meeting.
4 mass meeting of striking carpen-
tiers ia@ been called in Brooklyn to-
day and at this gathering these men
will be instructed to return, Mr.. Rice
SAID Meanwhile kilograms and tele-
phone messages are being sent to the
brotherhood locals in other cities.
The probability that the strike is
nsoring its end was confirmed today
by A. - Wilkie. district officer here
fo- the Emergency Fleet corporation.
There are indications the entire
matter will be adjusted this after
noon, 71r. Wilkie said.
Patriotic Edict by Labor.
Washington, Feb. 1S.-American la
Dor today endorses President Wilson's
war aims and is eager to do it's share
Towards winning the war.
4 In a declaration issued by the eX-
ecutive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor at the close of a
seven-day session here last night, the
american worker is declared to be
loyal and will do his share if he is
given q decent place to live, industrial
Justice and protection against condi-
hons that take his all for a bare
living.
Make it plain that their labor
counts in the whipping of the war for
Greater freedom-not for private prof
fteering-and workers can confidently
be expected to do their part" says the
declaration. .
1t calls attention to the gigantic
Struggle which lies ahead and says
that now is the time when all workers
must face the grave importance of
The Declaration.
Following is the text of the declaration ::
"We-ure face to face with a world crisis.
We are in a world struggle which will de
termine for the immediate future whether
cipies of force shall dominate The decision
will determine not only the destiny of ma
fiOns but Of every community and of every
Individual No life will be untouched
EITHER the principles of free democracy
or Prussian militaristie autoeracy will pre-
4here can be neutrality among nations
or indlviduals-we must stand up and be
labor there is but one choice.
"The nope Of labor lies in opportunity
for freedom The workers of America Will
not permit themselves to be deceived or
deceive Themselves INTO thinking the fate
OF the war will not vitality change own
lives A victory for Germany would mean
4 Pan-German empire dominating Europe
= and exercising II world balance of power
which Germany will seek to extend by force
SPrussian rule means supervision. chects.
unfreedom in every relation of life.
..Prussianism has its roots in the old
ideal under which zen sought to rule by
@uppressing the minds and wills of their
Fellows: 1t blights the new ideal of govern
ment without force or chains-political or
Defeat AutOcracy.
"ITnless the reconstruction shall soon
come from the German workers within that
country il is now plain that an opportuni-
ty to up-root the agencies of force will
come only when democracy has defeated
autoeracy in the military field and wins
the right TO reconstruct relations between
nations and man.
-The peace parleys between Russia and
Germany have shown the futility of diplo-
matte negotiations until Prussan militar-
lists are convinced they cannot superim-
pose their will on the rest of the world.
Force is the basis of their whole organiza-
ton and is the only argument they will
understand.
"Spontaneous uprisings in Germany in
aeotest against the militarist government
knve shown that the German government
ls still stronger than The movement for
German emancipation. German freedom is
Intimately the problem of the German peo-
pie But the defeat, of Prussian autocracy
on the battlefield will bring an opportunity
Tor German liberty at home.
I'VE have passed the period when any
one nation can maintain its freedom ire
0pectively of other nations. Civilization
has closely linked nations together by the