New-York tribune., 1918-01-18
Labor and the War
Falc Of CuHization Hangs Upon Action OF Words Workers
By George Hauen Putnam

1t Is not too much to say that the dcci-
sion Of this worlds war. decision upon
which depends the status Of civilization for
many years to come, is dependent upon the
action of labor, organized and unorganized,
in the various countries concerned. The men
who work with their hands constitute the
majority in all communities, and their ser
vice must be secured in part for the fighting
lines and in part for the work required to
maintain the fighting lines, and to maintain
at the same time the essential industries of
the countries whose troops arc at the front.
During the three years of tho war the
workngmcn have in large part given evil
dcncc Of good understanding Of the nature
of the issues that were being fought out
and they have much to their credit iii the
matter of loyal service and Of a readiness to
put to one side, under the pressure Of war
needs, contentious and convictions concern
ing the proper limit for working hours and
Ahc readiness to carry on work WITH men who
had not accepted membership in the unions.
The unions in Great Britain have (after GER
tain troublesome delays) finally adopted a
war policy by means of which the full
strength Of their membership is being
tributed to the maintenance of the re-
sources of the nation.
On this side of the Atlantic Mr. Gompers
has used his great influence in favor Of wise
and patriotic action on the part Of organized
labor. He has rendered enormous service to
the country and to the cause in making clear
to the members of the unions two things:
FIRST, that in common with all the citizens
or the Republic they owe service, and that in
time OF emergency they exceptional ser
vice, and, second, that from the point Of
view OF their own personal advantage they
have very direct personal interest in doing
their part to bring the war to a successful
close in such fashion that the liberties of the
Republic may be preserved, that its obliga-
tions may be fulfilled, and that the pros
perity of it's productive industries may be
assured for the years to come.
Patriotic Labor
1t is proper to recall, however, that great
bodies of the workingmen in this country
have refused to accept the policy of patriotic
leaders like Mr.. Gompers. Some groups have
endeavored to utilize for their own petty ad-
vantage the opportunities given by the press
ure tor war production. Others have al
lowed themselves to accept the leadership of
the |. W. W. and to take the ground that the
real struggle to be determined was not that
between German miitarism and civilization
but between what they call capitalism and
sighted selfshness of workers Cor idlers) of
TINS KIND has been promptly taken advan-
taSc of by German propagandists, who real
lze that every interruption to industry in
this country constitutes a gain for the Ger
man cause. 1t is under the influence and
with the use Of the money of these propa-
gandsts that the l. W. w. have been encour-
aged to carry on sabotage, to provoke STRIKES
to block by means Of the burning of facto-
ries, by bombs and by the disabling Of ma
chinery the production of munitions, equip
mcnt and food.
AT this time when the Republic requires
for its defence all it's available resources of
men and of material strike of workingmen.
mill, mine, factory railroad employees, is
simply treason. All industries must, for the
safety of the country, be maintained at full
efficiency. The individual who sells infor-
nation to the enemy is not guilty of more
serious treason than that which attaches TO
the union calling out thousand men from
the workshop.
The action of similar groups in Russia
has brought enormous disasters upon the
country. The labor organizations in Russia