Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-12
President Sends Telegram
TO Federation Of LABOR

Washington. June 1I-President Will
son today telegraphed to the American
Federation Of Labor ard the American
Alliance for Labor and Democracy, in
convention at ST. Paul, MINI. urging
the war progFa M.
The war can be lost in America as
we'll as on the fields of France and ill
considered or unjustitied Interruptions
of the essential labor of the country
may make it Impossible to win it, said
the Presidents telegram to Robert Mat
sci of the American Alliance for Labor
and Democracy.
No controversy between capital and
labor should be permitted to interfere
with prosecution Of the war, the Presi
dent said. until every instrumentality
set up by the government had been en-
ployed to settle Il.
TO Mi Gompers he telegraphed;
Please convey to the 3sth annual con
yeRtion of the American Federation Of La
Dor my congratulations upon the patriotic
support which the members OF your organic
alton have given to the war program of the
Nation in the past year, not only in the
trenches and on the battlefield, where SO
many OF our younger men are now in uni
form. but equally in the factories and ship
yards and workshops of the CouRtry where
the army is supported and supplied by the
loyal industry Of your skilled craftsmen.
We are facing the hardships of the cru.
eisl months Of the struggle. The Nation can
face them confidently, assured now that no
ihtriEues of the enemy can ever divide eur
unity by means Of those industrial auarrels
and class dissensions which he had tried SO
diligently to foment In these days of trial
and selfsacrfce the American workiRgm an
is bearing his share of the Nations burden
noby. In the new world of peace and free
dom, which America is sighting to establish,
his place will be as honored and his service
as gratefully esteemed
The Presidents telegram to Mr.. Maisel
said:
THE American Alliance for Labor and
Democracy have my earnest hope for a sue
cessful convention that will give added
strength to future activities Called into being
to combat Ignorance and misunderstanding,
skillfully played upon by disloysl influences,
your organization has done . great and nee
esssry work. it has aided materiallyin pro-
noting the unity that proceeds from exact
understanding and is today a valid and i'm
portant part Of the great machinery that co
ordin stss the energies of America in the
prosecution of just and righteous war.
THE war can be lost in America Is well
as On the fields OF France, and illcoRsidered
or pnjustifed interruptions of the essential
labor of the Country may make it impossible
10 win it. 40 controversy between capital
and labor should be suffered to interrupt it
until every fundamentally set up BY the
Government for its smicable settlement has
been employed and its intermediation Needed
to the utmost; and the Government has set
up instrumentaties wholly fair and ade.
quate. And this duty to avoid such inter
rupiions OF industry wherever they can be
avoided without the actual sacrifice of es
sentisl rights rests upon the employer IS i'm
perstiVeiy rs upon the workman. No man
can afford to do injustice ct any time, but
at this time justice is Of the essence OF
National defense and contests for any sort
of advantage that at other times would be
justified nay now jeopsrdise the very life Of
the Nation