Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-09-07
LABOR AND THE WAR
By ROBERT GRANT
Of The Vigilantcs

VI '1 10 it1iit'o
(Robert Grant Judge, Of the rebate
Court Of Boston, author of Unleav-
ened Bread, The Chippendales, An
Average Man, and other novels, and
one Of the Overseers of Harvard Uni
rersity, is one of the most distin-
guished members of the American
Academy of Arts and Letters.)
Only two classes have been bene-
flied financially by the war: the peo-
pie with material or products essential
to it's conduct and the men and wo-
men whose earning power has doubled
or trebled though the departure over
seas of the young able-bodied men of
the nation. Some large sums have
been made by the dealers in supplies
which the government required; but
Congress may be counted on to lake
care of surplus profits henceforth I'M
til the return of peace. Yet for every
rrofteerer Ito per2etuate an ugly
word for lack of better) in NUM-
tions or merchandise there are hun
Dire thousand working men and women
who are on easy street for the frs.
time in their lives because Of the adj
vance in wages. While people on
fixed income such as clerks, school
teachers and letter carriers, are having
difficulty in making two elbls meet,
numerous employees of one kind or
another are comparatively speaking in
clover.
The sensation is an agreeable one
end no one begrudGes it to them;
certainly not in the first flush of pros
perity when the desire to buy things,
which they have never been able to
afford and always hankered after,
makes the dollars burn in their pock-
cts. One has only to inquire in order
to ascertain that huciness in many
lines is going on as usual, not through
the purchases of old customers but CT
a brand new set intent on diverse minor
Injuries that one associates with
full purse. In sense this war period
is the hey-day of labor, for the reason
that an army of people Of small means
are better off than they ever were
tefore. But if these wage earners are
to emulate the patriotism of their
brothers who are giving their lives
magnifcently in order to crush soul
sitting militarism and safeguard de-
mocracy, their watdword must be
thrift not indulgence; they must incul-
cate saving not spending. Except By
rigorous individual self denial and the
dedication of the savings of the mass
to the cause of world liberty the wa7
cannot be won. We are all of US in
the trenches or can be if we choose By
Going what the government asks o:
US, and the slackers he or she who
having the opportunity for service is
too sordid or lieht-~ninded to rise to
it.
In the first place we are asked to
forego or to be absemious in using GER
tain foodstuffs so that our soldiers and
their allies may have all that they re-
quire. This is not much of hardship
for anybody. Next every one is i'm
Flored to be as economical as he or
she can in order to aid the govern
ment to raise the gigantic sums nee
cssary for carrying OF the war. This
is no great hardship either. 1t is d
war of endurance, the result Of which
will hinge on Individual self sacrifice;
victory is impossible without co-opcra-
tion in saving by the entire nation
The mass are not arged to give, but
tc save. Millions are being given 81
the wealthy to maintain the various
war charities. All that is asked OF
the rank and file is that they shall no.
gut into their mouths or on their backs
the extra money which the shortage
Of labor enables them to demand.
When they fail to live up to this they
cease to be patriots and become prof.
.ccrcrs. The next best prof of loyalty
10 laying down one life is to save.
And what an easy thing that is COM
cared to going over the top or facing
, bombardment.
Finally the government asks that
C one shall obstruct the winning Of
he war. Here is the opportunity fos
abor to be of immense service OF
great injury. If the men and women
vhose pay already far exceeds what
hey have ever earned before choose
o hold up the. national industries n
rider to obtain more, they are f;,3e
o their brothers in France and rn're
hemSp selves with Tho onon,y They