Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-08-16
.FORCEFUL ADDRESS
BY WILLIAM SHORT

ed the meeting in the House chamber
of the Capitol building Tuesday eve
ming. which was addressed by Will
liam Short. president of the Washing
ton State Federation of Labor. was
not commensurate to the value of the
talk given by President Short. How
ever, those present were appreciative,
and accorded the speaker full meas
ure.of applause.
NJ. d. Abbott and George Mueller
sat on the speakers platform with
the chairman of the meeting.
After delaying the opening for Is
minutes to allow the people to gather
in the hall. President r. A. Padget,
of the local Trades Council intro
duced Mr.. Short in few words. tell
ing of the mission upon which he
journeyed to Europe and the battle
fields of France and Belgium
Following President Shorts ad-
dress. Governor Lister spoke a few
words in praise of the talk just list
ened to and expressing the determin-
alton of the United States to carry
the war to a successful conclusion
for a great principle.
President Short related incidents
Of the trip over. recalling that the
ship which carried the labor COM
mission also carried 1000 troops,
and that they glided along with COW
cred lights through unfrequented
sea roads; that when nearing their
destination in England an attack was
made by a submarine. the torpedo
passing within eight feet of the YES
sci and striking war ship conveying
them.
He described visits to the great
munitiOn and war material factories
of England and France and the many
cOurtesies extended to the commits
sion. They visited the airplane fac
tories and the plants where the tanks
are built in ever increasing numbers,
The members of the commission
conferred with the leaders of the
Labor Movement of the allied ma
tons and with the political leaders.
Concluding his address, President
Short spoke of the actual conditions
affecting the workers in England and
France and the common belief in the
wisdom and honesty of purpose of
President Wilson.
During the trip through France
and the British Isles nothing was
more often or more forcib!y borne
in upon the tour than the high es-
TEEN and respect universally felt in
those countries for our own presi-
dent. Woodrow Wilson.
wherever the mission went" said
President Short. "it found the same
generous measure of praise and the
same high degree of admiration and
confidence expressed. No matter in
what differing industrial or political
circles we found ourselves, thore was
the same profound admiration for
him. In public meetings everywhere
mention Of President Wilson's name
and his war aims always brought
forth 4 stupendous and prolonged
demonstration.
1.-The actions and utterances of the
president have UNNECESSARILY heart
ened the people of the countries of
our allies and have inspired them to
a lofty and abiding faith in the tri-
umph of democracy. 1t is to Presi-
dent Wilson that millions across the
sea look with confidence as the great
leader who will bring the world t.
peace through victory on the same
high lbertarian plane that so strik-
ingly characterized Americas entry
into the conflict.
"In our discussions with the vari-
GUS sections of the labor movement
abroad one of the notable features
was the unanimity with which all
agreed In support of the war aims
set forth by President Wilson and en-
dorsed by the American Federation
of Labor. No matter what other diff
ferences there were on questions con-
corning the war. all wings came to-
gether on this point 1t is Presi-
dent Wilson's Interpretation of the
war and his declaration OF its pur-
poses that have made it in reality
among the people what Samuel Com
pers so graphically termed it, "a cru
SADIE for human freedom
"In war today the morale of the
people constitutes one of the vital
lines of defense. Unless that holds
everything else is weakened. If not
lost. The mission therefore gave es'
pecial attention to the state of mind
among the people at all times.
"That there is a certain WEAKNESS
among the people of France and Bri-
tain is evident even to the casual OBJ
server. The burdens of nearly fou,
wears of terrific war have fallen upon
their shoulders. The drainage OF
man power has been such as to leave
eo,. hut tba appI the inf