The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-09-06
ALL AMERICANS
ONE GREAT ARMY

VIC nave hHOWH. hdOoI LAY WAS
always deeply significant with us.
Now it is supremely significant.
Keenly as we were aware a year
ago of the enterprise of life and
death upon which the nation had
we did not perceive it's
as clearly as we do now.
We knew that we were all part
ners and must stand and strive to-
gether, but we did not realize as
we do now that we are all enlisted
men, members of single army, of
many parts and many tasks, but
by a single obligation,
our faces set towards single
object. We now know that every
tool in every essential industry is
a weapon, and weapon welded for
the same purpose that an army rifle
is wielded-a weapon which, if we
were to lay down, no rifle would
be of any use.
"And weapon for what?
what is the war for?
"Why are we enlisted?
"Why should we be ashamed if we
we're not enlisted?
"At first it seemed hardly more
than war of defense against the
military aggression of Germany.
Belgium had been violated, France
invaded and Germany was afield
again, as in 1870 and 1866, to work
out her ambitions in Europe, and
it was necessary to meet her force
with force. But it is clear now that
it is much more than war to alter
the balance of power in Europe
Germany, it is now plain, was strik-
ing at what free men everywhere de-
sire and must have-the rifht to de-
termine their own fortunes, 10 insist
upon justice, and to Oblige govern
ments to act for them and not for
the private and selfish interest of a
governing class. 1t is war to
make the nations and peoples of the
world secure against every such
power as the German autocracy
represents. 1t is a war of emanci-
patton. Not until it is won can men
anywhere live free from constant
fear or breathe freely while they go
about their daily tasks and know
that governments are their servants,
not their masters.
This is, therefore, the war of all
war which labor should support and
support with all its concentrated
power The world cannot be safe,
mems lives cannot be secure, no
mans rights can DE confidently and
successfully asserted against the
rule and mastery of arbitrary groups
and special interests, so long as gov
ernments like that which, after long
generalization, drew Austria and Ger
many into this war are permitted to
control the destinies and the daily
fortunes of men and nations, plot
ting while honest men work, lay
ing the fires of which innocent
men, women and children are to be
the fuel.
"You know the nature of this war;
1t is a war which industry must
sustain. The army of laborers at
home is as important, as essential,
as the army of fighting men in the
far fields of actual battle. And
the laborer is not only needed, but
as much as the soldier. 1t is his
war. The soldier is his champion
and representative. To fail to win
would be to imperil everything that
the laborer 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. 1t steels their muscles to
think of it. They are crusaders.
They are fighting Tor no SelflSh ad-
vantage for their own nation. They
would despise any one who fought
for the selfish advantage of any
nation. They are yivinv 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
insist 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 to the place where justice
is done and men live with lifted
heads and emancipated spirits. That
is the reason they fight with solemn
JOY and are invincible.
LET us make this, therefore, day
of fresh comprehension not only of
what we are about, and of renewed
and clear-avad resolution hut q dav