The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-09-03


Workers In Mar Plants Are Just as
Much Part CT American Army as
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 a 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 a Supporters of the auto
cratic system of German government
have sneered at the i~nefficiency of de-
mocracy. Acknowledging the poten-
tial military power of America, they
have insisted that a democracy given
to the exploitation of individualism
never could grid itself In q compact
organization for the prosecution of a
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 in
labor unrest and In a 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 it 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 a growing realization
among the workers of the responsible
ity that rests upon them. Every bat
terry that directs It's 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 a proper rec
ignition 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 nj 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 a woman mu.
milton worker.
The medal win be designed by Jo
Davidson of New York, who recently
prepared for the French government
Az ACkOk( kIOuP NO1nulCLiOI atilE Xix
first battle Of the Marine. The figures
will be q munition worker and a ship
builder supporting a soldier in full
fighting equipment. Models were Sc
lected after a long search among work
ers and soldiers In the New York sec
tlon.
The Woman Model.
Miss Clara williams, model for the
woman munition worker, is one of II,
600 woman workers In the Information
al Arms and Fuse company Of New
York.
Industrial plants that have shown
themselves In full accord with the ma
tional war labor policy may display
facsimile of the badge over their en-
frances, which will be a notice that the
war medals are issued In this plant.
Charles 7. Clayton, director of thu
civilian insignia service of the depart
ment of labor, announces that the wal
Industries badge will be disk shaped
slightly larger than a quarter of I
dollar, and will be attached to a red
white and blue enamel bar one ant
three-Quarter inches long. -Four con
secutive months of uninterrupted serv
Ice In war production will entitle 1
worker to the first badge, which viii
be OF bronze. Eligibility to the secon,
badge. which will be cast from tn
same die, but made of different metal
possibly silver. win come from eigh
consecutive months of war service
Award Of the bronze badge win b
retroactive on properly supported ar
plication, but nc silver badges win b
given for Industrial war service per
formed prior to September 1.