The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-06-14


eminent. He was to speak to them
for the Government and refer to their
relation to the Government, and his
desire was to be introduced by a SOL
der who was in uniform.
The first meeting was held at noon
at large industrial plant and there
were two thousand wage earners pres
ent. All seemed to be interested, not
only in the personality of the speak
but in what he was about to say. He
began by telling them that he was
expected to make Geographic report
to the Government at Washington in
which he would set forth the result of
the meeting and that 1t remained with
these wage earners to enable him to
make highly favorable report.
He said furthermore, that he hoped
to be able to report by telegraph to
the Government that these workers
had given unanimous support of this
pledge so long as this war lasts
I'll work and I'll do anything else the
President asks us to do"
Mr.. Soaring said that this pledge
was in the nature of an oath and he
asked the men to repeat it after him.
These two thousand wage earners in
stantly raised their right hands and
repeated this pledge as Mr.. Soaring
pronounced it and added: $50 help
me God, Amen" There was not a dis
senting note. The next day Mr.. Scar
ing addressed nearly five thousand
wage earners employed in another
plant, the number being so large, in
fact that it was necessary to hold
two meetings in order conveniently to
accommodate these men. 1t was, he
saidthis morning, most inspiring
spectacle.
These men of industry received him
with acclaim; they stood in dense for
nation intently listening to him and
his voice carried far away to the last
row, so that even at that remote point
all heard him. They repeated the
pledge or oath, and their manner
made it plain that this was not per-
functorily done.
Various other meetings were held
in Milwaukee, all of them successful,
and possibly as many as 10000 wage
earners so pledged themselves that
Mr. Soaring was able to report by
telegraph to Washington that Mil
waukee is I so far as the wage earners
are concerned, with the President,
with the Administration and with the
country, heart and soul, every one Of
these men promising to do his best
to aid in the war.
After the Milwaukee meeting Mr.
Soaring visited st. Paul and Mime
apols, where he met with equally en-
couraging support, as also at Still
water, Racine, Chicago, Clinton and
Duluth. At Clinton, upon the Missip-
pi River) is established great plant
for the manufacture of boilers which
are to be installed in the ships. The
wage earners there were especially
enthusiastic. 1t seemed strange al
most that an inland city, not large
city, should be so greatly occupied at
this time as Clinton is in the manu-
facture of boilers which are to be in
stalled in the ships. Everywhere the
men we're told that shipbuilding Is
now progressing very rapidly, and 1t
remains with the Industrial workers
in the various machinery and equip
ment plants to furnish an adequate
supply of these equipments so that
they can be installed upon the ships
as soon as the vessels are ready to
receive them. The men promised to
do their best, and their best means a
great deal.
In all these Industrial centers the
wage earners are anxious that noon
day meetings be continued. and II Ia
the purpose OF DR.. Eaton and Mr..
Soaring and the national service sec