The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-09-17
HONOR BADGE FOR
ALL WAR WORKERS
Americas Industrial Legion Of
Honor Is Formed.
GOVERNMENT IS BACK OF IT

Women and Men Who Contribute 70
Soldier Equipment Are to Be Des-
ionated by MedaI-WiII Show That
Workers in War Plants Are Just 40
Much Part of American Army az
Men In Trenches.
Americas Industrial Legion Of Hon.
or has been formed by the department
Of labor in providing a medal for war
workers.
Government authorities place great
Importance on the effect Of these med
ais. as they will show that men In war
plants are as much q part Of the
American army as are the men in the
trenches.
\ Back Of the idea to bestow these
medals Is the story Of the industrial
organization Of America for conduct
Ing the war. Supporters Of the auto
cratic system of German government
have sneered at the inefficiency Of de-
mocracy. Acknowledging the poten-
tal military power Of America, they
have insisted that democracy given
to the exploitation of individualism
never could grid itself in a compact
organization for the prosecution Of
great national effort like waging war.
Government authorities In Washing
ton have long recognized the difficulty
of such an organization, but faith In
the American brand Of democracy has
not faltered. The same authorities al
so have realized that the success Of
such organizations rested in the in
dustrial branch of the military SER
vice.
Difficulties were early manifested Id
labor unrest and in q disposition in
isolated cases to take advantage of a
war situation to present demands that
might have been regarded as unrea.
sonable in time Of peace, but on the
whole, American patriotism has been
as marked among the workers as
among the fighters themselves. This
is the more remarkable when 1t Is
remembered that a large proportion Of
the industrial army is made up Of men
who are citizens by adoption, or at
least one generation removed from
foreign birth.
Recognition for Industrial Army.
There is growing realization
among the workers Of the responsible
ity that rests upon them. Every bat
terry that directs Its fire upon the en-
envy must have its support in the in
dustrlal trenches. Every rifle, every
hand grenade, every cartridge, in fact,
every instrument Of war Is the work
Of the army that remains at home.
The Inauguration Of the industrial
legion Of honor will give proper rec
ognition to the service of those men
and is expected to inspire them with
a keener resolve to allow no moment
to be wasted, no effort dissipated so
that no soldier may die at the front
because Of lack Of support from the
rear.
Properly enough one of the figures |
on the medal will be Of woman mu-
milton worker.
The medal will be designed by 10
Davidson Of New York, who recently
for the French government
the heroic group commemorative the
first battle Of the Marine. The figures
will be munition worker and ship
builder supporting soldier in full
fighting equipment. Models were Sc
lected after long search among work
ers and soldiers in the New York Sec
ton.
The Woman Model.
Miss Clara Williams, model for the
woman munition worker, is one Of 12,-
900 woman workers in the Internation-
al Arms and Fuse company of New
York.
Industrial plants that have shown
themselves in full accord with the ma
donal war labor policy may display a
facsimile Of the badge over their en-
frances, which will be notice that the
war medals are issued in this plant.
Charles T. Clayton, director of the
civilian insignia service of the depart
nent Of labor, announces that the war
Industries badge will be disk shaped,
slightly larger than a quarter of a
lollar, and will be attached to a red,
white and blue enamel bar one and
inches long. Four con-
'ecutlve months Of uninterrupted serv-
ce in war production will entitle a
worker to the first badge, which will
,e of bronze. Eligibility to the second
badge, which will be cast from the
same die, but made Of different metal,
POSSIBLY silver, will come from eight
months Of war service.
Award Of the bronze badge will be
retroactive on properly supported ap-
but no silver badges will be
,iven for Industrial war service per-
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