The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-01-25
UNION NLABOR'S
LOYALTY WEEK

Samuel Gompers, President of the
American Federation of Labor says
in his proclamation calling upon or
ganized labor to observe loyalty
week:
at is fitting that upon every prop
er occasion the loyalty of Americans
to our country and our government
should be made manifest, not as a
matter of empty show, but as re-
curing demonstration of the solidar-
ity of the people of our nation in this
great war"
The week commencing February
10 has been selected for the purpose
for the reason that the birthday of
Abraham Lincoln, a son of toll and
friend of labor, will be the 18th
day of February.
Abraham Lincoln was born on the
18th day of February, 1909, near
Hodgenville, KY, and died by the
hand of an assassin on the 18th of
April, 1865, in Washington, D. C.
Lincoln lived ahead of the awaken
ing of labor to the necessity of or
ganization and collective action to
hold what had been left to it and
regain what had been lost through
the encroachments of capital. He
frequently gave sound advice to the
working pepole and was even their
staunch friend and supporter. In a
speech in 1861 Lincoln uttered the
following warning:
81 see in the near future a crisis
approaching that unnerves me and
causes me to tremble for the safety
of my country. AS the result of
war, corporations have been en-
throned, and an era of corruption
in high places follows, and the
money power of the country will en-
deavor to prolong it's reign by work
ing upon the prejudices of the peo-
pie until all the wealth is aggre-
gated in a few hands, and the re-
public is destroyed. Capital is only
the fruit of labor and could not
have existed if labor had not first
existed. Labor is the superior Of
capital and deserves higher consider
alton. l bid the laboring people be-
ware of surrendering the power
which they possess, and which, if
surrendered, will surely be used to
shut the door of advancement for
such as they, and fix new dis
abilities and burdens upon them un-
til all liberty be lost.
"In the early days of our race the
Almighty said to the first of man
kind, TN the sweat of thy brow
shalt thou eat bread And since
then, if we except the light and air
of heaven, no good thing can be en-
joyed without first having cost la
Dor. And, inasmuch as most good
things have been produced by la
Dor, it follows that all such things
by right belong to those whose la
Dor has produced them. But it has
so happened in all ages of the world
that some have labored and others
have, without labor, enjoyed large
portion of the fruits. That is wrong
and should not continue. To Sc
cure to each laborer the whole pro-
duct of his labor, or nearly as much,
is a worthy object of any govern
ment,
"It seems strange that any man
should dare to ask Gods assistance
in wringing bread from the sweat
of other mems faces.
"This country, with its institu-
tions, belongs to the people who in
habit it."
In many places in the United
States, Loyalty Week will be OBJ
served and fitting tribute paid to
the memory of Abramham Lincoln,
whose prophetic words so clearly
describes the conditions existing in
our country today.
Let us hope the whole people will
stand Loyalty by their country until
her efforts are crowned by the win
ming of a lasting democratic peace.
"Peace hath it's victories no less
than war;" then let us to the extent
of our abilities aid those who fight
for peace.