The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-04-05

But a lie that is half a truth, is
matter that is harder to fight"
Walter v. Woehlke, self-confessed
German sympathizer, and crafty pro-
German propaganda, who has been
writing articles discrediting the work
ingmen engaged in the ship building
industry of the Pacific Coast, is
using the half truths of some of the
conditions under which the men work,
to "make a case" against them. The
truth is coming out, however, and
when it does, Woehlke will be thor
oughly discredited, indeed if he does
not land safely somewhere for intern
ment because of the insidious propa-
ganda work he has accomplished in
this country for the Kaiser.
These Men Are Not Slackers.
The men in the ship building in
dustry in San Francisco and vicinity,
where Woehlke has been carrying on
his principal propaganda, are giving
loyal service to the nation and are
entitled to the encouragement and
praise that is due patriotic effort in
this hour of the nations need. Just
few days ago at the shipbuilding
plant of Moore & Scott, there was a
triple launching of three great 9,4OO
ton all steel merchantmen, the Shir-
taxa, the Aniwa and the Oakland.
The three boats are the product
of 1000 men working continuously,
day and night in eight-hour shifts.
The keel of the Oakland was laid
Nov. u, and the keels of the Shir-
TAXA and the Aniwa were laid Nov.
16. When the vessels were put in
the water the other day the work
was 80 days ahead Of schedule.
Equally fast time is promised in fin
ishing the vessels, delivery to the
government probably being from 40
to 40 days ahead of schedule.
The men on the job who put these
vessels into the water 80 days ahead
of schedule time are no slackers;
they are rendering to the nation a
service that is equal in Importance
to that which is being rendered by
our brave boys on the actual firing
line in France, though being less
dangerous and more prosaic, it ex-
cites less of admiration. But it
should be appreciated none the less.
Sights That GLADDEN. the Heart.
Only recently returned from San
Francisco and vicinity, where / had
spent three weeks for the Depart
ment of Labor, having been commits
stoned by Hon. William B. Wilson,
Secretary of Labor, in President Will
sons cabinet, to carry for him a per-
sonal message of cheer and encour-
agement to the men engaged in ship
building and other war industries. |
spoke to vast audiences of these men
at the plants, in their union meet
ings, in public assemblages, and talk
ed to great numbers of them indi-
vidually. In many instances | had
the opportunity of going through the
plants, as a government representa-
tive, and saw the men bending to
their tasks with vim, vigor and de-
termination that would gladden. the
heart of anyone anxious to see this
war for democracy successfully end
ed. Always, too, l found the men
enthusiastically responsive to patri-
otic utterance, and in every way they
make it clear that they are heartily
in accord with the government and
willing to do their best at all times.
Here Are the Half Truths"
Among so many thousands of men,
however, it is always possible to pick
out here and there some who are
slackers. 1t sometimes happens, too
that these are the fellows who have
| Deen lHLruuSu UPON VIC hiuuSHy vi
"letters of recommendation" from
wealthy friends, parents or infiuen-
tial politicians, because it finds them
"safe harbor of refuge" from wal
duty in an exempted industry. The
great body of the men resent the in
trusion of these fellows, and in fact
they are loud in condemnation of any
man who is a Stacker" on the job
or from war duty, for they know thai
these fellows are not only of great
harm to the country, but because OF
what they fail to do, the averag'
showing is lowered for the men whC
are doing their duty. But Mr.. Woeh
Ike, availing himself of these "half
truths which are the worst of lies,'
uses the exceptional cases to mak'
it appear that the whole body o,