Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-02

conditions under which men and
women toll and TO secure for them
time for rest and recreation had al
ready been recognized by the adOp
ton, in many states, of factory
laws. The 10-hOur working day for
women and children had been gain
| cd. Enjoyment of young children
in mill and workshop had been re
stricted and previous schooling had
} been required. Inspection OF ma
I chinery and other means Of safe
[ guarding life had been started and
convict labor had been partly with
drawn from market competition.
On the thirty-sixth Labor day,
Monday, Sept. ?, 1918, many a
/ prophecy that seemed to belong to
the millennium has come true. The
cycle of change has made Labor
/ day a true national holiday that
! embraces the whole commonwealth
/ and extends 10 Europe. 1t no long
( er belongs 20 a class, but to the
whole world, and its celebration IS
based on the common achieve
nents not of one rank of society. but
/ of all mankind" II viii represent
( the work OF 35. 900, 600 Americans
/ here at home and 800, 900 Ameri-
! cans over there. Some OF the mil
: lions are using hammers and picks,
! saws, and shOVels; they are toiling
/ over machinery and gathering the
/ harVeSts; others are using rifles
/ and bayOnets, hand grenades, and
var bombs; they are operating
/ tanks and manning the great guns.
I All belong to the same army; theirs
( IS the same labOr-''fOr the benefit
/ of mankind" since an injury TO
che has become the concern Of all
When war appeared imminent
| Samuel GOmpcrs, president Of the
I American Federation of Labor, call
! ed a conference OF the national and
international union presidents,
heads Of the federation departments,
/ the executive council, and repre-
SentatiVes OF the railroad brother
hoods, which met in Washington, d.
C., March y, 1917. The members
OF the conference, while hoping Tor
peace, offered their services To the
country in the event OF war, and
called upon their fellow workers to
follow their example. How enthus-
iastiCally that call was answered
has been recorded in the history Of
. the last year. M. GOmpers voiced
the feeling Of the American people
when he said:
Our people are at war The in
situations and ideals of free gov
eminent are at stake Every man,
woman and child owes service.
Some must serve at the frOnt-in
places Of greatest danger. Those
who remain at home where duty en-
tails less personal danger have
work just as essential. We must
work in war industries, contribute
10 their organization, and help as
sure them opportunities and re
sources. The intricate machinery
Of society and the lives of our PEG
pie must be directed in furtherance
of our paramount duty-winning
the war"
Across this seas the generals in
the army of in> stry Will salute the
generals in the army of the allies
On Labor day, 1918. 1t viii be the
occasion for the renewal of the sa-
cred pledges all have taken in the
name 81 liberty and democracy The
one army must depend on the other,
and both viii be sustained by an
abidiug faith in the impossibility
Of failure.
Labor day. 1918. will be a step
ping stone in history that viii be
recogniZed-a stepping stone at
which the nation viii pause 70 pray
for a peace that means the triumph
of justice and righteousness then
TO pass on aroused TO supreme eff
fort in shop and factory, in trench
and on battle field For that is the
most perfect government in which
an injury to one is the concern OF
all"