The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-08-24
ARE YOU A STACKER?


that a large number of workingmen
are in the habit of shifting from one
employment to another, remaining
idle for a few days between times.
In one occupation last week of 10
skilled mechanics only three reported
for work. Ten laid off for the day
without giving notice to their en-
ployers, as result of which the in
dustry was badly crippled in that
days production. This concern is
engaged in war work
American labor leaders are doing
their utmost to head off the neces-
sity for CONSUMPTION of labor in the
United States during the war. They
expect to show that the zeal and pa
triotism of the American working
men are so intensive for the winning
of the war that the government will
be able to get the maximum of pro-
duction from the voluntary cooper
through the adoption of compulsory
methods.
The great majority of working
men, more particularly the members
of trade unions, recognize the i'm
portance of putting the full strength
Of their labor power into production
at this crucial time. There may be
exceptions, but they are rare.
1t is not fair to the men who rec
ognize their obligations to the gov
eminent, casting their all in the
chance of war, and anxious to pre-
serve the liberties that have been
handed down to their Keeping, for
other men enjoying equal. blessings
under free government, to shirk
their responsibility by Stacking in
their time and their work during a
crisis such as this when human lib
erty is hanging in the balance. They
have no moral right to contribute in
the slightest degree to an Interrupt
ton of production by wantonly re-
mainin & idle at time when their
labor is,Heeded more than anything
else in the world to save the ma
tion. Such conduct harnesses and
worries those charged with the re-
sponsibility of supplying the needs
of our soldiers and sailors.
The laborer employed in a ship
yard, on a farm, in steel plant, in
a mine, on a railroad, in a factory,
on dock, or sailing merchant ship,
is as important in the operation and
the winning of the war as the man
who carts the food and ammunition
from military depot to the boys in
the front trenches. Indeed, he is
more important, for without his labor
everything stops. The slightest ces-
sation weakens the link in the chain
Of supply.
The soldier is under the strictest
military law. His civil liberty is lost
y.
He cannot leave a task assigned to
him without permission. Severe pun
ishmeht awaits him if he fails to
carry out instructions, or if he Stacks
in his duties. The laborer, although
every bit as important to the winning
of the war, still retains his freedom
under the Stars and Stripes He is
legally free to come and go at will
When his days work is done, his
privilege it is to rest in his own home
the master of his own life No
statute, civil or military, dictates his
course, but there is higher law, the
moral law, the law of duty, which
sobligates him to obey. j.
This, then, Isl the situation: The
EWar must be won. The welfare of
all takes precedence over the rights
,of the individual. The government
aims to protect every man in his
rishts, but it expects him to recog-
inize his obligation to country
which showers upon him blessings
unlimited, blessings not enjoyed by
the people of any other nation in
the world.
If an able-bod1ed person resid-
ling in the country particularly dur
ling time of war when the security
and freedom of allrare> IN jeopardy,
does not realizee the Importance OF
+. Il serving to the utmost of his ability
II then the only course left is to com.
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