The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-05-31

American Labor Mission Now Visit
ing England and France.)
The American Labor Mission in
England demonstrated the value Of
face-to-face talk. 1t gave the Eng
lish workers better understanding
Of American Labor's firm purpose
and fixed resolve and it will return
to America able to clarity a great
rany matters of which America has
not had clear understanding.
1t will return, too, with thor
ough understanding of what it means
to be 100 per cent at war. The
English people are at war in a way
that Americans do not know of
in a way that can scarcely be un-
derstood unless seen. The people
of England are consecrated TO this
war-and what is more, they are
demonstrating the reality o. thei"
conservation by unremitting physi-
cal effort.
Men, women and children are at
work. Everyone who is not at the
front is at work. Within four hours
after the Mission landed at a British
port Melinda Scott stood speaking
before an audience of 600 working
'omen, talking to them as they ate
tNeir lunch. 1t was thrilling sight.
The cheers were inspiring. The
ontaneous expression of friend ship
NNs a revelation. AS we lef. the
great plants hundreds of women and
firls pressed around every member
Cf the Mission, stretching out more
hands than could have been shaken
in half 1ay.
Again we saw women building
great machines of WI. Neither the
plant nor the work can be told Of
here, but the women were there do
ing the work of men as machinists
operating huge travelling cranes,
tending forges doing everything
that is to be done where big ma
chimes are built. And William H.
Johnston, President of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists. tes-
titled to the high quality of the
work done. 1t has to be of high
olality-the very highest, for the
lives of brave men depend upon their
handiwork.
See everything; we have nothing
to conceal" said George Barnes at
the luncheon given US by him in the
House of Commons. And we are
seeing everything. We are seeing
things no other civilians have been
permitted to see. America will
benefit by this, for the members of
the Mission will return to tell the
story of wars load when it is heav-
lest and the story of peoples de-
termination when it is at the high
est.
Butter, sugar and meat are to he
had in small quantities by card. No
card no butter, sugar or meat. We
dined at Warwick caste-and there
was no sugar in that famous old
place. In the hotel where we stop
there is none. Now and then one
may get bit of saccharine for his
coffee, but none has fallen to NV
lot thus far A druggist told me
today ne might have some in two
or three days. Meanwhile coffee
Is as medicine. But nobody com
PLAINS about it. 1t is trifle. at
IS better here than in some of the
other countries they tell you. and
let it go at that.
Few good clothes are seen. Pat
terms are standard. Taxicabs are
almost extinct. Typewriters are fo,
the government only. Because
am an American guest have one
to"ay for half day.
But with all of the death and
dcso!ation and hardship, the Brit
n people are unconquerable-their
splnit will not be broken. As long
as a man lives the fight for FREQ
dom will go on. Victory must come
and will come. Confidence in
victory is everywhere. And every
American face increase that conf
denco.
Tie English look to America as
to brothers; they look upon Ameri-
cans with affection. And the;r od-
mlrasion for our President knows
no bounds. When they hear the
splendid story Of our trade union
movement and its firm position they
know that America will make good.
Hav'ng made mistakes themselves.
they know we have made them too
and will make more. They under
stand us better than we have i'm
agined,
Here are two indications of the