Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-01

away with it. The president OF fed
Grated labor is bigger than the
President Of the people, and dictates
policies and issues DEGREES that hold
up the millions Of unorgan'zed
workingmen and the government, IN
! a manner that shows US where Ger
man diplomacy must operate"
| Our readers do not need to ask II
there is foundation for this German
government claim to the people
| tley will remember the disgracefui
farce in dealing with the railroad
! brotherhoods. in which the govern
ment was held up and the people
robbed, and the foundation laid for
similar defiance in other labor plots,
| as we'll as the necessity furnished
for wage increases in other branch
| es, each forcing another in endless
chain.
| Can we wonder that Germany
| laughs at our spineless methods OF
meeting difficulties. or that it tells
its people the American government
is in league with unionism (for Its
,ote) to exploit the people: What
would we say if we had similar
| chance at the German government,
and of the possibilities growing out
! OF such weakness?
Again what would we say If we
knew that the aircraft being sent to
the German front were being de-
nounced by the German general in
command as dangerous in construc-
ton and could not be used? Would
we not rejoice if we knew that Ger
many had expended hundreds and
hundreds of millions of dollars on
aircraft in the last year and a half,
and to show for it had half Il dozen
! scandals, evidence of all kinds
! profiteering graft, crookedness and
! traitorous performances in produc-
/ tion-and that only 81 airships, so
/ faulty in construction as to be dam
serous only to the operators, have
yet reached the army?
Such report broadcast in this coun-
/ try, might not be true but it serves
| the same purpose in Germany. We
would jump at the satisfaction Of be-
lieving such reports Of German air
craft production.
These are only two considerations
/ en- which Germany is building hope
and prolonging the war There are
| scores of others which the German
press and the war masters seize to
| fool the masses into holding out"
until American profiteers, union
! traitors, don't-give- rap inspectors.
and general public liberation Of such
! conditions overthrow the govern
ment and stop the war. Oh, yes, it
is false hope for the Germans, Of
course, but there's plenty to hang it
on-and it proIongs the war and
murders our sons.
| Every one of these strikes, every
! filthy dollar obtained by greedy
slows up our war work anywhere,
+ costs us blood--brave American life.
Why do we not deal with some of
these evils in man fashion? Why
are we letting them go on and on,
until our enemies eyes, and many
honest American citizens, too) ac-
cuse us of being governed wholly by
money considerations and political
prof1teering?
Why are the big profteers per-
mitted to continue, when we KNOW
enough to hang them? Why are not
the hordes of little, weasel minded
, profteers dealt with, when we have
proof enough in every community to
rut them out of business?
Why is piratical unionism winked
al until Germany proclaims that the
government with full power to
suppress the evil tendencies) is in
= league with it?
There is only one course that is
safe, sane and blood conserving. and
r that is honest, wide-open. firm
] handed methods of dealing with the
t small brains and smaller principles OF
those fellows who breed labor trou
; bes at national expense. And the
t same is just as true in dealing with
= those who employ labor. 1t is high
time the government quit dilly-
dallying with concerns and the men
they employ. Let both sides at last
understand that the American people
will no longer tolerate obstruction OF
=, war production when such obstruc-
ton costs the blood of their sons.
This is not nagging Of the govern
ment, for the public has suffered long
and silently. until perhaps the gov
eminent thinks the people do not
care But IL the administration is