The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1918-08-30

Organized labor is behind our gov
ernment in its war policies. 1t could
not be otherwise, for it has fought
for freedom, justice and equality from
it's very formation.
The present war is one to break
down autocracy and entErone democ-
racy and end tyranny and oppression
and establish justice; to wipe out
slavery and proclaim freedom. In fact,
to end for all time to come the pos
sibilities of war.
Before war was declared by our
government, representative of organ
lied labor met in Washington, D. c.,
and pledged their support and coop
GRAFTON in peace or in war, in stress
or in storm, to stand unreservedly by
the standards of liberty and the safe
ty and preservation of the institu-
tions and ideals of our republic
| At the same time they offered their
services and the services of the organ
izations they represented to our gov
ernment in every field of activity re-
quired, in order to defend the republic
of the United States of America
against its enemies, whomsoever they
may be. That declaration was will
ingly, Loyalty and patriotically ac-
cepted by the members of organized
labor Of our country and has been
faithfully observed and lived up to in
every instance.
No group of citizens has more
faithfully accepted and obeyed these
declarations than the members of fthe
| United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners of America.
Offered Services to Nation.
At a meeting of our General Execu-
tive Board held in Indianapolis, Ind,
on April 7, 1917, that body offered
to our government the services of our
entire membership in whatever way
they were most needed. Since that
time thousands and thousands of our
members have volunteered to work
for the government wherever desired
At the present time more than one
hundred thousand of our members are
working in the shipyards, ammuni-
tion plants, aviation fields and canton
ments. Over four thousand are work
| ing in France and more than ten thou
sand are in active service in the army
and navy
| When Misunderstanding arose rel
ative to working conditions and the
tional War Labor Board was organ
lied, our general executive board, then
in session, telegraphed the president
of the United States as follows:
indianapolis, Indiana,
april 18th, 1918.
Honorable Woodrow Wilson,
president United States of America,
White House, Washington, D. C.
"The general executive board of the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America, in regular quar-
terly session at Indianapolis, Indiana,
congraulates you on the success you
have attained in establishing prac-
tical machinery by the. formation of
a National War Labor Board to han
die industrial questions during the
period of the war.
"We are in hearty accord with the
principles, functions and powers of
the National War Labor Board as set
forth in the memorandum of that
body to Secretary of Labor William
B. Wilson, under date of March 10,
1918, and approved by you We hope
that all departments of the govern
ment will cooperate with this board,
so that basic conditions under which
labor shall be employed on government
work, direct or through contractors,
may be established and thereby bring
about contentment among the work
ers which has not existed up to this
time
"Now that the National War Labor
Board has been established to handle
industrial questions, all of our inter
national officers pledge you and that
board their hearty cooperation and
assistance to the end that your efforts
may not be in vain.
"a few days after war was declared,
we offered the services of the mem
bers of our organization to our gov
ernment in whatever way they were
most needed. We take this oppor-
tunity to assure you that we never
deviated from that position and again