The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-08-31
QUESTION OF LOYALTY

It is not the proper thing for the
workmen in the shipyards to demand a
dollar an hour for their services while
the American boys who are barring their
breasts to the Germans on the French
front receive only dollar a day. 1t is
not fair for the coal miners to ask an
other increase in wages after having
made a wage agreement for term of
two years at the time of the last raise
of As cents per ton. 1t is quite useless
for President Gompers, Secretary Morri-
son and the other federation leaders to
keep on telling us that "labor is loyal
while these things are going on, and we
quite agree with Senator Thomas OF
Colorado when he declares that labor is
exploiting the treasury Of the United
States. This country is at war and in
many Of the industries labor is exempt
from CONSUMPTION The wages paid
these workers at the present time are
the highest ever known, and no more
money should be taken from the treas
ury to purchase their loyalty"
It is true that the cost of living is
very high all over the world, and that
there will be great amount of suffer-
Z ing among the poor of Europe during
the coming winter. Food prices are al
ways high in war time, however, and
the struggle for existence in belligerent
countries is nearly always very hard.
The United States is an exception to this
rule because of the great demand for
labor and the prevailing high wages.
There is quite contrast between this
country and England, where the average
wage Is not over $40 week, and where
wsne food prices are as high as on this
side Of the ocean. We rejoice inthe fact
that wages are high in America and that
it is as well with us as it is. But there
must be limit placed upon the demands
made by the men who have been exempt
ed from duty on the firing line in order
that they may mine coal, make munitions
and various other kinds of work in
order that we may win the war, and the
limit should be set at this time. In ord
er to raise money for war purposes the
country will be taxed to the limit by
the provision of the new revenue bill, and
the people will be called upon to purch-
ase bonds to the extent of sixteen bill
lions of dollars between now and the end
of the fiscal year. This money should
be used for the purpose for which it is
raised and for the purpose Of keeping
labor quiet during the most crucial per-
iod Of our existence as nation.
Strenuous opposition has been made
to the work or fight" amendment to
the new draft law, because the labor
leaders desire to use the strike method
of extorting more money from the gov
eminent. At the same time we have
been repeteadly told that there would be
no more strikes during the war. If la
Dor is indeed loyal, there will be no ces-
Eation of work in any of the war indus
tries and no attempts made to extort
higher wages by threatening STRIKES, or
limiting that the labor leaders may not
be able to prevent the men from quitting
work as.individuals unless wage conces-
sions are granted. We are taking mil
lions of men for war service who have
ne choice in the matter They are draft
ed, put into the uniform of their country
and sent forth to kill or be killed. These
men are entitled to all the consideration
that can be shown them on account of
the sacrifices they are compelled to make
for the common good. 1t is not more
than just to the men who comprise our
forces on land and sea that all men with
IN the draft age limits who will not work
be forthwith indicted into the army.
1t is quite useless to say that, this will
give the grinding corporations an undue
advantage over their employees, for it is
the government that is now footino tho