The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-06
HURRY, AMERICA, HURRY"

DO we say to ourselves: something
like this: Oh, that is the message
for our government and it doesn't
mean me at all-is that what we
say?
Do we look upon this message as
an impersonal affair directed at
some detached government agencies
in which we lave no direct work.
a-day concern?
If we do we are all wrong.
That call from France is per-
sonal-it is directed to you.
There never was such a personal
war as this one. There never was
war as personal as this war.
Never did the Individual count so
heavily.
And the reason the individual
counts so heavily in this war is that
the COLLECTIVELY counts for every
thing-that is, all of the people
working in harmony count for every
thing.
Unless all of the people do work
in harmony there cannot be the
kind of war that is needed. All
of the people means every individual
and that's why the war is per-
sonal to every one.
When the call comes over the
ocean saying hurry, America, it
means hurry Americans-and that
means every American, hurry!
The ideals of the nation are
bound up in this war. The insti-
tutions Of the nation are at stake
in this war. The future of the
people of America are bound up in
this war.
We have here a nation dedicated
to freedom, born of mems deter
mination to be free in order to
save their own lives and to work
out their own destinies.
Through the opportunities that
lie in freedom and democracy we
believe we can build on and on,
constantly mailing life better and
broader.
Our dreams of the future in
free dom are limited only by our
ability to dream and to aspire; and
our realization of those dreams and
aspirations will be-as in the past
Limited only by our capacity for
building. What we actually do ac-
complish is the business of no
body else-swhat is of Importance
is that we have the chance to try
and that chance lies only in
maintaining our opportunity.
But this is not purely national
concept, this love of freedom
It is a world of concept 1t is a
world dream and world demand.
We are in harmony with the world
that is, the civilized world.
The people of all civilized coun-
tries have the same hope, the same
| dream, the same determination that
animates us.
And in every one of these coun-
tries the issue is just as personal
as it is in America. If it isn't per-
sonal it amounts to nothing.
Unless the dream and the hope
of freedom is personal with all the
people it becomes merely the play
thing of the rich and powerful few
and then it ceases to be dream
of freedom. The idealism goes out
of it and the purpose goes out of
it. That is what is wrong in Ger
many. There is freedom for a few
to compel the order of the lives of
the masses. That isn't freedom.
That is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
So, when the call comes from
France, 'Hurry, America, Hurry"
it is call to you, John Smith and
Joe Brown-it is a call to you to
hurry that your liberties may live!
Never forget for moment that
this is your war. 1t isn't President
Wilson's war, it isn't Secretary b.
ker's war, it isn't the governments
war. That is the thing that makes
this more than a war. This is
your war!
Men and women of America, fight
this war as your war. Put your
personal force and enthusiasm and
devotion and sacrifice into it.
For it means everything that is
worth while to you.
Guard jealousy your share In
this war of yours! Don't let any
one else do your part. Don't let
anyone else rob you of your share
in the defense of your freedm!
By your own work, your own
effort, answer the call that comes
to you'