The Washington herald., 1918-06-10
WORKERS.
SURE TO STICK
Holland Tells Of National
Service Section Of
-. DR.. Eaton.

by DR.. c. A. Eaton. the distinguished
clergyman Of Cleveland. Ohio. In
this city some weeks ago than did
the secretary OF the Navy, jose
phus Daniels. Others of the admin
tstration OF President Wilson heard
the address and shared with Secre-
tary Daniels the enthusiasm which
was occasioned by the eloquence and
earnestness OF DIR. Eaton. There
seemed to be a spontaneous recog-
milton Of the value to the govern
ment which would be secured
through service which could be
given by DR.. Eaton and he was
practically commsndeered into gov
eminent service.
The United States Shipping Board
and the Emergeney Fleet Corpora
ton werea the instrumentalities
through which DR.. Eaton's services
were secured. He was allowed to do
as he pleased. His proposition that
a national service section be organ
lied was cordially accepted, and DIR.
Eaton was named as the chief ex-
ecutive.
The principal service upon which
he was Immediately engaged in
yolved the visiting Of various ship
yards and the making Of addresses
TO the ship workers. These ad-
dresses inspired the workers every
where and the feeling thus stimu-
lated explains in part the speeding
np OF the ship building throughout
the United States.
DR.. Eaton felt that 1t was essen
tial that service of this kind be
supplemented by like service in the
industrial plants, especially those
which are occupied in manufactur-
ing material such as boilers. en-
gines and other machinery which
are to be installed in ships as soon
as they are to receive equipment of
this kind.
Therefore, Frederick F. Soaring
was named as the representative OF
the National Service Section. with
instruction to visit various indus
trial plants in the West, and to ad-
dress the wage-earners.
Mr. Soaring returned this morning
to New York and was able to give
highly gratifying and inspiring
news respecting his experience in
the industrial plants in the West.
The Milwaukee Industries.
Milwaukee Is the chief center of
Industrial activities which are pro-
dueing steam engines, pumps. and
other apparatus needed for the
ships. but Milwaukee has been pre-
sumed to be q strongly pro-German
city. and certainly strongly Social
ist- Mr.. SearinEs experience in
Milwaukee disproves that prevail
ing impression.
The manufacturers of Milwaukee
who welcomed him nevertheless
spoke at first somewhat doubtfuIIy
about his reception. They knew
that many Of their wage earners
were OF German birth or Of German
descent. and that many of them
have adopted the principles OF So
cialism.
Mr.. Soaring said to these manu-
facturers that he did not want to
be introduced to the men in any
other way than as a representative
OF the United States government
He was to speak to them for the
government and refer to their re-
lation to the government. and his
desire was to be introduced by a
soldier who was m uniform.
The first meeting was held at
noon in a large Industrial plant and
there were 2,009 wage earners pres
ent- All seemed to be interested,
not only in the personality of the
speaker. but in what he was about
to say. He began by telling them
that he was expected to make a
telegraphic report to the govern
ment at Washington in which he
would set for the result of the
meeting. and that it remained with
these wage-earners to make a high
ly favorable report.
He said. Furthermore, that he
hoped to be able to report by teIe-
graph to the government that these
workers had given unanimous sup
port to this pledge:
Pledged to Stick.
80 long as this lasts I'll stick
to my job. I'll do an honest days
work. and I'll do anything else the
President asks US 10 do"
Mr.. Soaring said that this pledge
was In the nature of an oath and
he asked the men to repeat il after
him. These 1000 wage-earners in
stantly raised their right hands and
repeated this pledge as Mr.. Soaring
pronounced it and added:
so help me God, Amen"
There was not a dissenting note.
The next day Mr.. Soaring addressed
nearly 5000 wage-earners employed
in another plant, the number being
so large in fact that II was neces-
sary to hold two meetings in order
conveniently to accommodate these
men, 1t was, he said this morning,
most inspiring spectacle.
THESE men Of industry received
him with acclaim: they stood in
dense formation intently listening
10 him, and his voice careered 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 IL plain
that this was not perfunctorIly
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 Milwaukee is, SO
far as its wage-earners are con-
cerned. 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.
Other Cities.
After the Milwaukee meeting Mr..
Soaring visited st. Paul and Mime
apolis. where he met with equally
encouraging support. as also at
saltwater. Racine. Chicago, CIin-
ton and Duluth. At Clinton. upon
the Mississippi River. is established
KIMKv