The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-02-22
WE MUST BE STRONG TO WELD
SWORD LEFT us BY OUR FATHERS
Will Forfeit Rights If Nurses Crouch Instead of
Using Opportunities to Uttermost Says Guy E. Miller OF
Miners.
BY f. Miller,
Workers

violated their agreement with the
government.
Are the workers interested? Shall
they sulk, or, like men capable of
voicing their grievance, say to Presi-
dent Wilson through Secretary of
Labor Wilson: eve are ready to
perform our part Of the agreement,
willing to give our assistance to the
government, but Cleveland H. Dodge
and John d. Ryan are interfering
with the governments war prepara-
tions by refusing to permit it. Would
you kindly call the gentlemen to
Washington and have them explain
the reason why?" The principle of
the common defense is above any
mans antipathies.
There is nothing standing in
stronger contrast than the govern
ment's present attitude toward labor
as contrasted with the past. Do
you recall Cleveland's sending the
troops to crush the A. R. U. strike?
Do you remember President Wilson's
connection with the Adamson act !?
Is there anything significant in
Roosevelt's sending the Federal
troops to Goldfeld, and President
Wilson sending a special commission
to Arizona and the West?
Make the Innovation Permanent.
Would it not be a good idea to
make the innovation permanent? We
are organized to improve conditions,
to get results, are we not? 1t is
easier to get them acting in CO.
operation with the government than
in opposition to it.
Measures intended for the soldiers
might well be extended to industrial
life. Life insurance at cost would
be q boon to millions. Sickness is
the cause of much suffering and pow
erty; insanitary conditions in the in
dustries and workers. homes are
chiefly responsible suppose that
government should give the same
care to the workers health that is
given to the soldiers!
But let none imagine that because
labor's interest passes the lines of
national boundaries that the claims
Of nationality can be ignored. If we
are unable to exercise the rights of
citizens in our own country, we are
not yet ready for world-citizenship
The United States is to play lead
ing part in the great world-drama
To renounce our rights as citizens
is to abdicate our heritage in the
fruits of ages of struggle, it is a
base betrayal Of humanity's supreme
interests.
The tocsin of the American Revo-
luton shook the thrones of Europe
and established self government
here. This war may well introduce
a new world-era. Our sires be-
queathed to US the power to fashion
our own destiny; if our hands are
too weak to WELD their sword, then
we are indeed unworthy sons.
The question Of the rivalries that
begun the war is insignificant in
comparison with the basis upon which
it shall be ended. The measures in
troduced, the policies applied in di-
recting and arousing the nations en-
ergies in the war may have a wider
influence in promoting human well
fare than the decision of the peace
council that terminates the war and,
let us hope, sweeps away the wreck
age Of the thrones.
In large measure, the silent hosts
of the battlefelds are our dead, la
boris own. To what end did they
die?
We are free to choose, but we can
not escape the results of our choice.
Those results will abide to bless or
curse the coming years.