Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-11-24
LABOR AND THE WAR


When the history of the great war IS
written, the splendid record of the
workmen of America will be worthy
of publishing beside that of the gallant
fighters for democracy on the battlt-
fields Of Europe.
American labor has performed truly
wonderful works in the great conflict.
1t has been the hope of the world; the
one reliance of the hosts of democ-
racy abroad.
England's man power and that OF
France were called for the building
up of armies to a point where both
countries were dependent on America
for many raw materials. America was
called upon to furnish great army;
but those who remained in the factor
les redoubled their efforts, knowing
that upon them depended the safety
of those who had gone, and life itself
for the unfortunate war-stricken ma
tons allied with America.
Labor has not failed in its gigantic
task. With practically the whole
world to feed, clothe, shelter, and
arm, one could hardly have wondered
if the men at home had considered IT,
contract almost too much for the
but the American workman is not o.
that type.
Here is a job was the subcou
scious thought of workmen-and -
the workingwomen as well-"that has
got to be done. It's a big job, but it
can be done if we will that it be done. "
And it has been accomplished
Floyd Gibbons, the famous war co.,
respondent who was wounded in
France, found how the workman felt
about the war in conversation with a
little American soldier on French
railway train.
'The Kaiser is the worlds biggest
scab," was the young soldiers verdic-.
(He had, by the way, just come froln
the upper Michigan peninsula, where
he was one of number of strikers
who had just won a victory in strike
for batter working conditions) THE
worlds on a strike against him, AMI
we must win the strike "
The patriotic workmen and the
quick-thinking manager have won this
war for America. Senator Mcclellan
recently declared that the lions share
of the credit should go to the work
men, The plans of even the most
astute managers have gone awry; in
some projects there has been de'av
and almost failure. But America mas
made up, all the defects of poor man
agement. And it is to American labor
that the victory is largely due
Few persons realize the magnitude
of labor's task in the great conflict.
What actually has been done almos'
staggers the imagination.
American labor has built the ships
to carry American soldiers and sup
plies to Europe
When the war began there were
rather fewer than 100000 shipbuilders
of any skill or training in the country.
Many times that number were needed.
The workmen of America, with no
motive but the patriotic desire to be OF
service. came forward to offer what
skill they had gained in like occupa-
ons-blacksmiths, carpenters, sheet
metal workers. and men of hundred
her trades. They did not know much
nit ships, perhaps, but they were
TO learn. How well they learn
hd how well they wrought. are
G..ustrated by the proud figures Amer
lea recently gave to the world, show
ing that American shipping is nov
greater than ever before in history and
that the United States is in a fair way
to become the greatest maritime pow
er in the world.
The building of the ships, however,
was but small part OF the great prot