The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-07-16
AMERICAN LABOR
WILL WIN WAR;;
WORK FOR j. 8.
Workmen Vote To Give Up
4 Half Holidays To Further
War Program Of Nation.

t5y ASSOc1uIeU 1TtSS W ] nv
WASHINGTON, July 12-As the
guns on the western front do not
cease their work Saturday afternoons
and holidays, neither do the ham
mers and saws in the shipyards on
this side of the Atlantic.
The men who are building the
"bridge Of ships" know that every
minute counts and have voluntarily
renOunced the hours formerly devOt-
ed to recreation.
The writer who said that British
liberties were bounded on one side by
Magma Charta and on the other by
the weekend might be paraphrased
to read that the rights of American
labor have been guarded fore and aft
by the union card and the Saturday
half.holiday. The cessation Of work
at noon Saturday during the hot
months has long been custom which
nothing availed to change until the
war united heterogeneous nation in
10 compact fighting force.
But union labor picnics, will be few
In number this summer for holidays
every time.honored legal holiday, such
as Memorial Day, have been sacriiic-
ed by the men to the greater need of
speeding the building of ships.
Aggregate results Of the added in
dustry are astounding. With total
OF 100000 men employed In, shipyards,
even one days extra work IL eQuiva.
lent TO the creation. of hundreds of
new tons of shipping.
The spontaneous example of the
metal workers and ship.wrights on the
Pacific COast-where shipbulding IL
at its swiftest pace in this country
In voting to stay on the job Saturday
afternoons during the summer, came
TO the attention of President Wilson,
who telegraphed the following appre-
citation to the Portland Metal Trades
Council.
MAY | not say I sincerely admire
and applaud the patriotic action tax.
en- by the Metal Trades Council mt
Portland with regard to half holidays?
II sets up a high and admirable stand.
ard OF patriotism"
The employees of the Sun Shin.
building Company at Chester, Pa, on
May 30 contributed full days ser
vice without pay. assigning their wag
es to the Philadelphia War Chest
Campaign. A similar service on that
date was donated by LOO employees
OF the SandersOn a. Porter Shipyards
at Raymond, Washington. Down al
South Jacksonville, Fla. the force OF
mechanics and labOrers, AGO men, toll
ed from morning till night one Satur
day. without pay, because they want
ed To do for their country IN war time
more than their country was askint
them to do.
This inspiring fighting spirit amon|
the shipyard workers has repeated,
drawn from the officials OF the Shin
ping Board enthusiastic recognition
and appreciation Chairman Hurle,
s telegraphed the South Jacksonville
workers:
"Such spirit of loyalty and enel
gy as you men displayed win hastel
materially the building of ships, 70
which there IL such vital need at thi
critical time"
The gift Of Memorial Day from IN
workers at the Sanderson a. Porte
plant at Raymond. Washington. Dire,
from Director General Schwab of In
Emergency Fleet Corporation Il tel,
gram which said;
This In wonderful display Of pa
rtotism which should be an Inspire
tion TO all at this critical time whe
need for united action IL 80 vital"