The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-12
PRESIDENT SAYS
/ u. s. STRIkESCAN
BRING DEFEAT
Wilson Sends Message of Praise
and Warning to Labor
at St. Paul.
ASKS SUPPORT OF WAR PLAN
Executive Declares American Work
men Are Bearing Their Share
of the National Burden
NobIy.

Washington, June 12.-President
Wilson telegraphed to the American
Federation Of Labor and the American
Alliance of Labor and Democracy, in
convention at ST. Paul, Mimi, urging
renewed efforts Of labor in support Of
the war program.
No controversy between capital and
labor should be permitted to interfere
with the prosecution Of the war, the
president said. To Samuel Gompers,
head of the American Federation Of
Labor. the president telegraphed:
"Please convey to the thirty-eighth
annual convention Of the American
Federation Of Labor my congratula-
tons upon the patriotic support which
the members Of your organization have
given to the program Of the nation In
the last year, not only In the trenches
and on the battlefield where so
many Of our younger men are now in
uniform. but equally in the factories
and the shipyards and workshops of
the country, where the army Is sup
ported and supplied by the loyal indus
try Of your skilled craftsmen.
Crucia' Months Of War.
eve are facing the hardships Of the
crucial months of the struggle. The
nation can face them confidently, as
sured now that no intrigues Of the en-
emy can ever divide our unity by
means of those industrial quarrels and
class dissensions which he has tried SO
diligently to foment.
I'm these days of trial and self-sacri-
fee the American workingman Is bear
ing his share Of the national burden
nobly. In the new world Of peace and
freedom which America is fighting to
establish his place will be as honored
and his service as gratefully es-
|. teemed."
In his telegram to Robert Maisel OF
the Alliance for Labor and Democracy
the president said:
| o"The American Alliance for Labor
and Democracy has my earnest hope
| for a successful convention that will
| give added strength to future activi-
ties. Called into being to combat ig-
norance and misunderstanding, skill
fully played upon by disloyal influences.
| your organization has done q great and
| necessary work. It has aided matert-
ally In promoting the unity that pro-
| ceeds from exact understanding and Is
today valid and important part Of the
great machinery that cO-ordinates the
energies Of America in the prosecution
| Of Just and righteous war.
War Can Be Lost in America.
"The war can be lost in America as
well as on the fields Of France, and Ill
[ considered or untustltied Interruptions
Of the essential labor of the country
may make it impossible to win 1t.
mo controversy between capital and
f, labor should be suffered to interrupt
| 1t until every instrumentality set up by
| the government for It's amicable settle
ment has been employed and its inter-
| the government has set up rinstrumen-
| talities wholly fair and adequate.
"This duty to avoid such Interrupt
tions Of Industry wherever they can be
| avoided without the actual sacrifice Of
essential rights rests upon the employ
| er as imperatipely as upon the work
| man. No man can afford to do ,injus-
tice at any time, but at this time JUS
| tice is Of the essence Of national de-
fense and contests for any sort Of ad-
vantage that at other times would be
Justified may now jeopardize the very
lifo Of the nation"