The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-11-24

the workmen OF America will be
worthy of publishing beside that oi
the gallant fighters for democracy
on the battlefeldS 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 democracy abroad.
l'ngland'S man power and that
of France were called for the build
ing up of armies to point where
both countries were dependent on
America for many raw materials.
America was also called upon to
furnish great army; but those who
remained in the factories redoubled
their efforts knowing that upon
them depended the safety OF those
who had gone. and lie itself for
the unfortunate war-stricken ma
tionS allied with America,
Labor Has Not Failed
Labor has not failed in It's gigant-
ic task. With practically the whole
world to feed, clothe, shelter and
arm, one could hardly have Won
dered il the men at home had con-
>idercd the contract almost too
much for them; but the American
workman is not OF that type.
Here is a Job" was the Subcon-
,ciouS thought OF the workmcn-
and OF the workingwomcn as we'll
that has got to be done. 1t is a
big job but it can be done il we will
that it be done" And it has been
accomplished.
Floyd Gibbons, the famous war
correspondent who was wounded in
France, found how the workman felt
about the war in a conversation with
an American soldier on a French
railway train.
The kaiser is the worlds biggest
~cab, was the young soldiers YER
dict. Gle had, by the way Just come
from the upper Michigan peninsula,
where he was one OF a number OF
strikers who had Just won a victory
in q strike for better working CON
ditionSD The worlds on strike
against him, and we must win the
strike"
The patriotic workman and the
quck-thinking manager have won
thi, war for America. Senator Nc
Nellar recently declared that the
lions share OF the credit should go
to the workmen. The plans of even
the most astute managers have gone
awry; in some projects there has |
been delay and almost failure. But
America has made up, or is making
up, all the defects of poor manage
ment and when peace finally dawns .
with America triumphant, it is to
American labor that the victory will
be largely due.
Few persons realize the magni-
tude of labor's task in the great con-
flict. What actually has been done
almost staggers the imagination.
What Labor Has Done.
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 shipbuild-
erS OF any skill or training in the
country, Many times that number
were needed. The workmen Of Am
,rica, with no motive but the pa
riotic desire to be OF service, came
Onward to offer what skill they had
gained in like occupations-black-
miths carpenters, sheetmetal work
RS, and men OF Il hundred other
rades. They did not know much ,
.bout ships, perhaps, but they were
'ager TO learn. How we'll they have ,
earned, and how well they wrought, ,
S illustrated by the proud figures |
\merica recently gave to the world
hoWing that American shipping is
low greater than ever before in his {
DRY and that the United States is {
IL fair way to become the greatest L
maritime power in the world.
The building OF the ships, howey- =.
r, was only small part OF the great b.
Program. To construct the great }
leet that America has put upon the
taves, enough yellow pine was re-
uired to have built a bridge from |
ere to France, with 100000 feet
# timber leat over. Getting this
mber out of the primeval forests
t the great northwest, hauling it u
. the railroad, transporting it 1000 g
r 5000 miles to Gull and Atlantic t
cast shipyards, formed an epic feat S
t labor that deserves celebration
y a great poet.
Moreover, America had to get
eady to make the ships. The build n
lg of the great shipyards was a ii
ice against time and the German :,
Ibmarne; but they were complet- :,
/ through American genius and the y
avotion of American labor, and the
ibmarine menace no longer exists.
Employment Service to Rescue =,
The nations $4,000 factories next -
eedcd help: those and the farms e'
'hilc the wheat fields OF the west IL
ere clamoring for men to harvest II
e great crop that must feed not
lly this country but its armies and
e armies and civilian population
the allies, the munitions works C;
many parts OF the country were
ginning to feel keenly the losses
ey had sustained through the
ait. Here was a double problem.