The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-10
Patriotism In The Ship
yard

An observer who recently toured
the shipyards of the Pacific Coast was
asked, on his return, what he thought
contributed most to the success Of
the Western shipbuilders, who have
led the nation consistently in rapid
tonnage production. He replied with
out hesitation:
''The fact that homogeneous on
the West Coast never overlook an
opportunity to remind the men that
we are at war and that the winning
of the war depends largely upon their
efforts"
There is a commentary that is
worth Analysing. 1t speaks highly
for the patriotism of the average
man. If constant reminders to the
shipyard worker that he is needed
and appreciated can be translated
into tonnage afloat, an effort to keep
that pertinent fact always I'm the
foreground is well worth while.
MONDAY meetings in the ship
yards are growing in popularity.
They offer an excellent opportunity
to drive home, in most compelling
way, to the workers that they are
part of Uncle Sans fighting mia
chinery. No MONDAY meeting should
be adjourned without that point being
emphasized. Tell any intelligent
American, "The country needs you
and your work. Every minute you
loaf on the job, you imperil the sue
cess Of our soldiers abroad. Every
ounce of energy you put into your
work draws US nearer to victory over
there" and who can doubt that he
will go back to his job with the de-
termination to do his best?
The printed word, perhaps, is just
as good medium for patriotic les
sons as verbal preachings. Today
there are about 38 or 40 shipyards in
America which have their own papers.
The self acclaimed purpose Of these
publications is to encourage spirit
of cooperation and patriotism among
the men and employers and to quick
en- the shipbuilding program.
Of these 38 or 40 papers, only a
few are consistently emphasizing the
patriotic aspect of the case. 1t seems
to US that the others are overlooking
a great opportunity. There is a def
mite link between the work in any
shipyard today and the work of the
soldiers in France. Never before in
world history has great war depend
ed so much upon ships. The ways to
present this fact to the shipyard work
er are many and varied. It is no
waste Of space or effort. The ship
yard editors have a service to per-
form and if they do it well, they will
have done a great national service.
There can be no doubt that the war
posters which patriotic American
artists are turning out for their coun-
try without pay) serve useful pur-
pose. These posters carry a message
of patriotism that even the illiterate
can catch at a glance. They serve as a
constant reminder to the worker that
his labor counts, that the country de-
ponds upon him, that he is doing his
part to defeat the enemy.
Can any man be credited with good
impulses and not be uplifted? Call
a patriot by his real name and you
increase the quality of his patriotism.
Ignore him and he feels his finer emo.
tions wasted.
Let the shipbuilder Of today be
called his true name. If he does his
work honestly, he is an American pa.
triot. Let him know that the world
recognizes him as such, and his pa.
triotism will thrive.-The Emergency
Fleet News.