The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-10-25
OBSTACLES
by Henry A. McAnarney)


the Congress of the United States
declaring that a state of war existed
with the Imperial Government of
Germany, and from the moment the
Congress almost unanimously in
dorsed that declaration, this country
has been confronted by serious OBJ
stacles. Making ready for war,
this peaceful nation threw open it's
storehouse doors to take inventory
of its goods.
Ere the message of the President
had been heralded in the land, the
mill, the mine, the factory, and the
forest were threatened by plots and
sabotage.
Prussian philosophy had taught
that the United States was not
nation; that it had no national spir-
it; no tradition; no ties to bind its
people-merely vast area of land
swarming with human beings intent
upon their own affairs. The Prus-
sian had viewed the prospect with
single eye. He saw the States;
the United States was invisible to
him.
The Prussian was deceived. His
masters had triced him with their
science. By their ridicule, their de-
rision and contempt they have trans
formed a peaceful people into an ag-
gressive army; they have forced
friendly nation to become deter
mined foe.
These human units intent upon
their own affairs were welded into
solid nation breathing national
spirit, emerging from it's lethargy
strong, confident, and fearless.
The web of barriers the Prus-
sian had woven were torn apart
by a giant hand, and the stealthy
spiders which spun them were crush
ed beneath a monster foot. In
single stroke the Prussian obstacle
at home was crushed.
Then the bugle call resounded
summoning these men of peace, I'M
disciplined, unframed, to the school
of war. They swarmed forth, aband-
oning their homes, their professions
and all their ordinary pursuits and
thronged the environments, cheers
on their lips and patriotic fervor
surging in their hearts.
The Nation had triumphed over
another obstacle. 1t had nodded
struggling mob into an army, equip
ped and ready for the battle.
Next the seattle sea that had to
be traversed 5000 miles to make the
Army effective.
The Prussian foresight had pre-
pared for that. He had said no
man dare defy his submarine SER
penis nor nation challenge his COM
mand of the sea. But he was de-
fled, challenged, and annihilated.
The sea itself left no trace of the
barricades he had raised. These
struggling human units from Amer
lea, intent upon their own affairs,
were fighting on the battle field of
France.
The great Prussian obstacles had
been shattered.
And now-comes labor.
The Army guards the battle front;
the Navy guards the sea; each pro-
tects the Nations homes; each
serves as sentry over liberty every
where, and each has placed it's trust,
it's power, its very life in the labor
that is left at home.
The Prussian lie, the sabotage, the
torch, the terrors of the sea, were
conquered by the force of arms.
But Labor! Guns, ammunition,
transports, food, clothing-all rest
in the hands of labor, the friend,
the ally, the companion of the fight
err overseas.
ed; he must have guns and ammuni-
ton; he must have ships. He is on
foreign soil 5000 miles from home;
great sea lies between him and
those he loves. He does not for
get the girl he has left behind; the
memory of mother and sister is not
curbed by distance. The sentiment
of youth is not stifled by the crash
ing din of war.
This soldier is still an American
boy, with the hopes, the ambitions,
and every youthful love throbbing
in his soul.
Has he not a right to ask-nay,
to demand-the support of labor in
this crisis?
Shall labor unwittingly be an OBJ
sale to this American boy in armor?