Ripley County democrat., 1918-09-27
lAB0R's PART IN
WORLD WAR IS OF
VAST IMPORTANCE
---
PRESIDENT WILSON PAYS ELo
ouENT TRIBUTE TO AMERICAS
m ARMY or WORKERS. ~
GoMpERs DELIVERS MESSAGE
Head Of the American Federation ei
Labor Points Out the Need Of 4
y Unity Of Action Here.
4
soMpERS DELIVERS MESSAGE

September 2s, Is second to no othe
part that will be played. Everythin,
that is created must be create,
through the energy OF men and womel
who toll. As a result the success o
the drive for the Fourth Liberty Loar
depends IN a very large measure upor
the cooperation OF labor in the cause
Not only are the toilers bearing
their part of fighting in the European
trenches, but they are bearing tht
bulk Of the fighting within the fac
tory trenches In the United States
The Importance Of the part they plat
is illustrated both by President vii
son in bis Labor Day address and also
In the Greetings to the American
People" sent from England by Sam
uel Gompers. president of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, who Is Ii
Europe on mission for the United
States Government.
No better description OF the i'm
portance Of Labor could possibly be
given than that Of President Wilson
"The army of laborers at home Ia
as important, as essential, as the
army Of fighting men In the far fields
OF actual battle" the President said
"And the laborer Ia needed as much
as the soldier. It is his war. The
soldier Is his champion and repre-
sentative.
ITO fail to win would .be to imperil
everything that the laborer has
striven for and held dear since free.
dom first had Its dawn and his strug.
gle for Justice began The soldiers at
the front know this. 1t steels their
muscles to think Of it. They are cru.
saders They are fighting for no
selfish advantage Tor their own ma.
tion. They would despise anyone who
fought for the selfish advantage OF
any nation. Y
: President Tells Why They Fight.
FThey are giving their lives that
homes everywhere, as we'll as the
homes they love In America, may be
kept sacred and safe, and men every.
where be free as they insist upon
being free. They are fighting for the
ideals Of their own lands--great
ideals, immortal ideals, ideals that
shall light the way for all mon to the
places where Justice Is done and men
live with lifted heads and emaci.
pated spirits. That Is the reason they
fight with solemn Joy and are in.
vincible."
The laborer can dwell with intense
satisfaction on his duty as well as his
accomplishment. A large share Of the
active fighting forces are drawn from
the ranks Of labor. But above this is
the consciousness that the equip
ment and supplies OF the fighting
force is exclusively the product Of
the laborer-nghter who Is contribut-
ing equally as much al the forge and
at the work bench. The fruition Of
all this energy and labor is touched
upon In the message which Mr.. Com.
pers sent to the working people Of the
United States.
Win the war for freedom Is 10.
scribed upon the banners Of Ameri
cas- workers today in every city and
hamlet" President Compers says in
his message 1T is the message that
win be spoken from every platform.
1t is the song Of every heart. II is d
var Of freedom because only through
victory can there be freedom.
"The working people OF America
are conscious Of their vital part In
making victory possible, and they will
do their part, not as task, but as 4
right-a right to share in the work
Of securing forever that freedom
which they prize above all things.
We count II our most sacred duty
to win safety for our freedom and our
democracy, for only when they are
safe can life give to us its opportuni-
ties and its value. Win the war for
freedom"
There is no ebb and fiow to com.
merce during the period Of the war.
II is constant equipment including
equipment OF the soldier. his sus-
tenance. his maintenance Of health,
medical aid. provisions, munitions.
service for supplies, and the main
tehanee Of tho millions Of allied peo-
bles until they can be placed in a pd
sition TO sustain themselves -of the
soldiers that American labor Is called
upon to make.
No matter how small q part teller
may play IN the immense plan. ii II
On essential one, The young toiler
that works in tho most obscure parts
Of munitions Or supply plants Is as a.
tential as the man who works On the
most important parts 81 tue heavy ar.
tiIlary and munitions. Without prop.
or attention 10 the obscure and minor
parts, the whole would be irlfurf sct.
Without the perfect whole. the telling
blows against the huna would be I'M
possible n AlI reqi1iIes unity and
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