The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-03
T.R. CALLS SHIPYARD
LOAFERS TRAITORS
Limitation Of Output a Crime
Against the Country,
He Asserts.

NEwBuRGH, Sept. Theodore Roose-
welt talked to-day to several thousand
cheering persons who witnessed tho
launching OF the first steamship produced
by the Newburgh Ship Yards Company
Tor the Emergency Fleet Corporation.
The vessel. Of 5000 tons dead weight.
the first OF ten that are to be launched
at monthly Intervals, was christened the
Newburgh by Mrs. Irving T. Bush. The
ships bell contributed by the citizens of
Newburgh, was presented in their name
by Mayor Wilson.
shipyard workers who loaf on the Job
and any labor unions which limit the
output Of ships were denounced by Col.
Roosevelt as traitors. He specifically
exempted the Newburgh yards from sus-
picion and said he was convinced that,
generally speaking. there Is a fine spirit
OF patriotism in shipbuildng labor in all
parts Of the country"
He was glad to be able 10 say this, for
"a Stacker in our shipyards Is as shame
fui creature as a coward in the army
In France. and good worker in the
shipyards stands honorably forward like
good soldier in the army"
Yet 1t has been alleged to me that In
certain yards men have loafed individ-
ually' he continued. and that In cer-
tain yards unions have actually limited
the output SO as to limit the number OF
rivets driven in a day or to limit the
number OF days that they work, or In
other ways to prevent the development
Of our full strength and our utmost
speed. Such men are traitors to the
country
III / had my way ! would take any
such man and any men who aided or
abetted him and put him in the army Mt
once and send him across the water TO
do the hardest work In the most dan
gerous position: and | would not give
MIN rife until he had learned the spirit
OF patriotism. Any man who lays of
now or scamps his job Is a traitor to his
Fellow Americans In France, a traitor
to the men who need all the help we can
give them.
On the other hand YOU, whom / am
convinced represent the enormous ma
Jority of the shipyard workers, you who
are doing your utmost night and day.
week In and week out, stand on the
honor roll Of American citizenship as
second only to our troops in France, and
honor you. l am proud beyond meas
ure that am your fellow countryman.
The army we have in France has
oeen put there only because the British
furnished US 60 per cent Of the tonnage
needed to ferry them across. From now
on American shipbuilders must bear this
burden. Therefore any limitation of out
put In our shipyards is a crime against
the country
ANY union rule or workmen's ae,ca-
ment to limit the OUTPUT IN shipy.-ds
should be trs.,ed as criminal at this
time. Pershing's men are not limiting
their output. Shame and disgrace should
be the portion OF any man who here at
home limits the output necessary to
make the blood and labor Of our soldiers
at the front Of avail
1t is the patriotic duty Of men in the
less essential industries to leave those
industries and to come to the shipyards
and to place their technical skill at the
service OF their country in the way which
will best help to win the war. Ship
building Is the neck Of our Industrial
bottle so far as this war Is concerned
Let every man. At to work in a shipyard
go to the shipyard nearest to him to help
out In our great need for skilled labor"