The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-09-02
ARMY OF LkBORERS
SUSTAlNS THIS WAR.
SAYS PRES. WILSON

SH 10 j ~
/ WAFHINGTON. Sept . Prcai-
dent Wilson's fhbor dHy message.
delivered here. calls on the entire
American people. soldier and civilian
worker. to realize their respond
/ bili,y as units IN one vast army
working for the overthrow ~ the
Hun.
1T ~ "a war which industry must
sustain. and the army 81 laborerH
at home h. ns important as the
army Of fighting men in the field
Of actual battle" the president de-
clareh. The message follows:
My Fellow CitiscnH. Labor day.
1918. H. not like any Labor day that
We have known. Labor day ~ah al
ways deeply ngnificant with ua.
Now ~ f. nupremsly significant
| kecnly nH We were aware a year
ago OF the enterprise Of life and
death upon which the nation had
embarked. We did not perceive ita
meaning as clearly as We do now.
We knew that we were all part
nera and must stand and strive
together. but We did not realize as
We do now that We are all enlisted
mon. members Of single army.
OF many parts and many tasks.
bat commanded by "A single obli-
CATION. our faces set towards a
single object We now know that
every tool IN every essential in
duatry h "a weapon. and a weapon
welded for the same purpose that
an army rife Is wieldod--a weapon
rifle would be Of any use.
And "A weapon for WHAT
what H. the war for
why are We enlisted
why should we be ashamed II
We were not enlisted
Struggle for Freedom
AT first Il seemed hardly more
than "a war OF defence against the
military aggression Of Germany.
Belgium had been violated. France
invaded and Germany was afIcid
again. hA In 1870 and 1866. 10 work
out her ambitions In Europe. and
II was necessary to meet her force
with force.
"But Il ia clear now that ~ much
moro than war 10 alter the bal
ancs 81 power in Europe Ger
many. u IL now plain. WAS strik-
Ing al wha, free men everywhere
desire and must have--the right TO
determine their own fortunes. TO in
sas; upon Justice. and TO oblige
governments TO act for them and
not for the private and selfish in
tercs, Of governing class.
ut " war 20 make the nations
and peoples OF the world secure
against every such power as the
German autccrncy repre- aen;S. u
II war 81 emancipation. Not until
u iH won can men anywhere live
free from constant fear or breathe
freely while they so about their
daily tasks and know that govern
ments arc their servants. no, their
masters
This is. therefore. the war ~ all
wars which labor should support
and support with all its concen-
trated power The world cannot
be safe. mems life canno; he Sc
cure. no mans rights can be con-
fidcntly and successfully asserted
against the ruie and mastery Of ar
hltrary groups and special interests.
80 long as governments like that
which. after long reconciliation.
drew Austria and Germany into
this war. are permitted TO control
tho dcstinics and the daily fortunes
Of men and nations. plotting while
honest men work. laying the fires
Of which innocent men. women and
children are 10 be tho fuel.
Industry Must Sustain
You know the nature of this war
II Is war which industry mus;
sustain. The army OF laborcrs al
home IA as important. as essential
"a the army Of fighting men in the
far fields Of actual battle And the
laborer is not only needed as much
as the soldier. II Is his war. The
soldier Is his champion and repre-
sentative. To fail 20 win would
10 to impcril everything that tho
laborcr has striven for and held
dear since freedom first had its
dawn and his struggle for justice
began
The soldiers at the front know
this II stocla their muscles "a
think OF Il. They arc crusaders
They are fighting for no selfish I'D
vantage for their own nation. They
would despise any one who fought
for the selfish advantage OF any
nation. They are giving their lives
that homes everywhere. as well as
the homes they love in America
may be kept sacred and safe. and
men everywhere be free as they
insis; upon being free. They are
fighting for the ideals Of their own
land-great ideals. immortal ideals
ideals which shall light the way
for all men 20 the places where
justice is done and men live with
lifted heads and emancipated spir-