Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-30
ORGANIZED LABOR HERE
AMBULANCE To THE
Organized Labor Makes Fine
Gift of Auto Apparatus to
Local Chapter
MEETING SATURDAY NIGHT
Arthur A. Quinn Formally Pre-
sents Gift, Which is Received
by Chairman of Chapter

A gift that exemplified American
spirit and patriotism was presented to
the local chapter of the Red Cross
Saturday night in the high school au-
dtorium by organized labor of Perth
Amboy. The gift was an ambulance
which is needed so much by the Red
Cross. as was indicated in the recent
explosion at Morgan and epidemic and
the fund for purchasing the ambu-
lance was raised by solicitation among
the trades unions of this city, and so
the car is distinct gift from the
laboring men of Perth Amboy. 1t was
the first thought of organized labor
to send this ambulance over to
France, but IT was finally decided to
present it TO the Red Cross chapter
here.
The meeting was opened by sing
ing the Star Spangled Banner" after
which A. II. Schroeder, the represen-
tatlye of the labor unions. introduced
the presiding officer, ID. 7. 0lmstead
Mr.. Olmstead said that there was
no greater factor in bringing the war
to successful conclusion than the
staunch support and the patriotism
of organized labor. He then intro
duced the first speaker of the even
ing, Rev. Wilbert Westcott.
America Leads Humanity
Mr.. Westcott declared that the am
bulance gift expresses the spirit that
has taken hold of the American peo-
pie and that the attitude of organ
lied labor here was expressive Of the
great spirit manifested by the entire
American republic throughout the
war. He remarked that Germany
and the whole world were having an
illustration that America leads the
way of all nations In the matter OF
giving money and service. and that
hn frth 4f 70 fIe
ambulance was characteristic of that
larger spirit dominating the people
of these United States. Mr. Westcott
also said that back of the giving he
saw the prophecy of the principle of
justice. which must be indicated and
probably will be In the coming peace
conference, and that he also saw the
will be big enough and brave enough
to give to the whole world a perma-
nent and lasting peace.
Harold e. Pickersgill was the next
speaker and he said that It meant
more than ever to be a member of
any trade union. He told about the
wonderful work that Samuel Com
pers. the great labor leader, had ac-
complished among the laboring class
of America. He said that it was a
great privilege to belong to such a
GROUP of men who have in their
ranks some of the most brilliant and
Intelligent men in the country Mr..
Pickersgill declared that it was
through the efforts Of organized labor
that this ambulance will assist the
Red Cross in the furtherance of their
work in this city because just such a
thing is needed here so greatly.
Arthur A. Quinn, president of the
State Federation of Labor. was the
next to speak and he remarked that il
took the recent war to bring out the
wonderful work that organized labor
In the country had been doing. He
said that when the call came for men
TO build great cantonments and ship
yards that Ii II was not for the fact
that there was a vast reserve of skill
ed laborers II would not have been
possible to have organized the Won
derful army that fought for this
country. He said also that the bulk
of the war construction work was
done by organized labor. and people
prior to the war who had condemned
organized labor had their eyes open
ed to the fact that such factor was
really O great asset to this country.
Mr.. Quinn concluded his talk by for
mally presenting the ambulance to
the Red Cross IN behalf Of organized
labor of this city, and 4. ID. Waring
received the ambulance for the Red
Cross.
DIR. William C. Stinson. recently the
field director of the Red Cross at
Camp Dix, then spoke. He has been
connected with the Red Cross for over
twenty years and during the Spanish
American war was the only represer-
tative of that great organization on
the fields of battle in Cuba. In his
talk he brought out the great contrast
between the Red Cross OF today and
that of yesterday; that twenty years
ago, where there was one man OF the
Red Cross in the field of service, to-
day there are thousands of such mes
sengers OF mercy and cheer. He de-
clared that the contrast was stupen-
dous and illustrated the remarkable
and inconceivable advance of the Red
Cross in the past few years. He said
that most of the boys who went out
from this city to fight for the ideals
of this nation. would be coming back
here again and that he hoped the am
bulance would be at the station to
meet those who are wounded or SICK
The meaffnR was concluded by sing