The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1918-09-27
PART IN
WORLD WAR IS Of
VAST IMPORTANCE
PRESIDENT WILSON PAYS ELo-
QUENT TRIBUTE TO AMERICAS
ARMY OF WORKERS.
GOIPERS DELIVERS MESSAGE
Head Of the American Federation o!
Labor Points Out the Need Of
Unity Of Action Here.

The part that Labor will take in
the sale Of the Fourth Liberty Loan
Bonds, which will be inaugurated
September %, is second to no other
part that will be played. Everything
that is created must be created
through the energy of men and women
who toll. As a result the success Of
the drive for the Fourth Liberty Loan
depends in a very large measure upon
the cooperation of labor in the cause.
Not only are the toilers bearing
their part of fighting in the European
trenches, but they are bearing the
bulk of the fighting within the fac
tory trenches In the United States.
The Importance OF the part they play
is illustrated both by President Will
son in his Labor Day address and also
in the Greetings to the American
People" sent from England by Sam
uel Gompers, president Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, who is in
Europe on a mission for the United
States Government.
No better description of the i'm
portance Of Labor could possibly be
given than that Of President Wilson.
THE army Of laborers at home is
as important. as essential, as the
army Of fighting men in the far fields
OF actual battle" the President said.
And the laborer is needed as much
as the soldier. 1t is his war. The
soldier is his champion and repre-.
sentative.
ITO fail to win would be to imperil
everything that the laborer has
striven for and held dear since free
dom first had its dawn and his strug.
gle for justice began. The soldiers at
the front know this. It steels their
muscles to think of it. They are cru.
saders. They are fighting for no
selfish advantage for their own ma.
tion. They would despise anyone who
fought for the selfish advantage of
any nation.
President Tells Why They Fight.
They are giving their lives that
shomes everywhere, as we'll as the
homes they love in America, may be
kept sacred and safe, and men every
where be free as they insist upon
being free, They are fighting for the
Ideals Of their own lands-great
ideals, immortal ideals, ideals that
shall light the way for all men TO the
places where justice is done and men
live with lifted heads and enact.
pated spirits. That is the reason they
fight with solemn Joy and are in.
vincible.'
The laborer can dwell win intense
satisfaction on his duty as we'll as his
accomplishment. A large share of the
active fighting forces are drawn from
the ranks Of labor. But above this is
the consciousness that the equip.
ment and supplies of the lighting
force is exclusively the product of
the laborer.hghter who is contrihut.
ing equally as much at the forge and
at the work bench. The f|ruition of
all this energy and labor is touched
upon in the message which Mr.. Com.
pers sent to the working people or the
United States.
win the war for freedom is in.
scribed upon the banners OF Ameri.
cas- workers today in every city and
hamlet President Gompers says in
his message. 1T is the message that
will be spoken from every platform.
1t is the song Of every heart. 1t is a
war Of freedom because only through
victory can there be freedom.
The working people Of America
are conscious OF their vital part in
making victory possible, and they will
do their part, not as a task, but as a
rlght-a right to share in the work
OF securing forever that freedom
which they prize above all things.
we count It our most sacred duty
to win safety for our freedom and our
democracy, for only when they are
safe can life give to us its opportuni.
ties and its value. Win the war for
freedom"
There is no ebb and flow to com.
MERGE during the period of the war.
1t Is a constant equipment-includina
equipment of the soldier, his sus.
t~enance, his maintenance OF health
medical aid, provisions, munitions
service for supplies, and the main.
tenance OF the millions OF allied peo.
pies until they can be placed in a DO.
sition to sustain themselves-of the
soldiers that American labor is called
upon to make.
No matter how small a part a toiler
may play In the immense plan, II IL
an essential one. The young toller
that works in the most obscure parts
OF munitions or supply plants is as es.
sential as the mar who works on the
most important parts OF the heavy ar.
tillery and munitions, Without prop
er attention to the obscure anG minor
parts, the whole would be imperfect
without the perfect whole. the tellins
blows against the huns would be i'm.
possible. 1t all requires unity and 4
harmony Of purpose.