The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-03
LABOR'S BIG DAY
VAS HONORED
Continued from first page

.
OF speech with Just the degree of punch"
| that Is needed in delivering an address
1 which deals with labor's part in the
struggle for the preservation Of democ-
raey Mayor French, early in the course
of his remarks, adopted an uncompro.
missing attitude toward German agrees
sion and then proceeded to tell his audi
/ tors what labor has accomplished and
what remains TO be done while the war
lasts. His statements concerning the re-
construction period to follow the war
were both timely and well pointed.
| Mayor French spoke in part as follows,
after having been introduced by Alexan-
der Ironside, president of the Central
Labor union:
| Through organization and federation
the toilers have made their influence felt
in the determination of national and in
ternational issues The international
organization of the workers has made
| the brotherhood and fellowship Of all
men a real force potential in the affairs
of the nations. Solid opposition of the
working people has acted as steadying
force in many crises and a deterrent
against aggression. Organized labor
stands firmly against all injustice and
oppression of the weak, regardless of ma
tionality The workers have helped to
construct the worlds civilization and we
demand that the results of their labor
shall be protected.
by our protests and by our demands
we have widened the thoughts and the
sympathies of men; we have given to the
worlds conception Of life understanding
and reality. Our position is justified by
years Of burden bearing, by weary
muscles and dreary hearts. We have
known the bitterness Of the dark places
OF life and are determined to make them
brighter and better. Working people
have bought with their flesh and blood
the right to a voice In determining the
issues of peace and war.
"OT position cannot be interpreted to
mean lack of patriotism. We could not
love our country SO well, loved we not
peace and honor more. The workers of
America love their land. We reverence
her good name, her dignity, her author
ity. There is no sight under heaven that
SO moves us and thrills us, and rouses
our deepest emotions as the Stars and
Stripes waving in the wind against the
wonderful blue of the heavens. Would
we fight for them? Yes, we would lay
down our lives because Of the great ideal
which they typify. The flag stands for
America, the cradle Of liberty and free
dom, 1t stands for the ideal of equal
opportunity for ALL often we have blind
ly CROPPED after that ideal-bu it Is
that for which we reach; it is that which
we shall have
Our republic, founded upon principles
OF justice and equality, has inspired men
of all lands. As out in the west arose
our noble structure men weighed down
by despotism, chained to burdens i'm
posed by specially privileged class, have
watched with eager, anxious longing as
we builded wider and higher the noble
structure. They have seen it weather
storms undaunted. They have seen and
turned with hope filed eyes to the prob
lens Of their own lands, determined that
those of their fatherland should enter
into the noblest heritage of mankind
freedom Of mind and body
America has been the inspiration of
years-it is the hope Of the present
I Separated by the breadth of an ocean
from other countries that have entrusted
TO their hands western civilization Amer
lea has held aloof from the plots and
Vaccinations by which the countries of
Europe have heaped burdens on the backs
of each other and have crushed their own
people. Calm, free, unperturbed by old
world political iealousies and cut.throat
policies, we have been working out the
problems of human freedom. We have
welcomed 10 our fold the strangers from
all lands who have sought here oppor-
tunity and freedom.
"One hundred four years ago, when the
gigantic ambition and the sleepless en-
ergy Of the great Napoleon had hurled
down all the old political institutions Of
western Europe and had fomented wars
and strife between nations, we sought to
maintain the dignity and the rights of a
neutral nation.
when they were denied us, we fought
for them and won. During the hundred
and four years that have elapsed between
that last European cataelysm and this
one, we have grown from an infant ma
tion into the full stature and might of a
world power Our beautiful land is one
vast unbroken expanse. washed on both
sides by oceans that separate yet con-
meet us with the old worlds We have
delved deep into the riches of our coun-
| try. We have built mighty factories and
industries. We have sent the products
of our hands and minds to all markets Of
the world. With it all and in it all we
have tried TO carry the ideal of human
! freedom and equality of opportunity. We
have not always succeeded in that. But
we have tried. We have succeeded in
some things-that ia our worth to the
millions who are striving for some degree
of liberty and democracy. :"
| Taking up the war situation, Mayor
French said:
| I'm the general reorganization that
| viii follow, the workers must have voice
and influence That voice and that in
| fiuence have ever been used for liberty,
justice and humanity. Though the
workers have again and again suffered
from the mistakes and the wrongdoings
of Others, whenever the opportunity has
been afforded they have ever evolved
something for the betterment of human
ity and the establishment of justice.
when the time comes to determine
the terms of peace for the present con-
| dict all artificial standards and ideals
must be swept aside. The only result
that could in any degree compensate for
the present destruction of life would be
the coeyal destruction of militarism, au-
tocracy, the fetish Of the balance Of