The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-17

hour and the house was packed to ca pacity. A profound impression was made by the speech of each man and intertwined with the laughter thai was drawn several times by amusing comparisons there was a deep note un- del lying that spoke of the truth about the gravity of the situation oeing forced home to their minds. Prolonged applause followed each speech and the speakers at the end of the even ing.
 This morning pr. Russell will speak to the negroes at the Sixteenth Street Baptist church, and Colonel Applin will make a talk at the First Methodist church This afternoon at o'clock both speakers will address mass meeting at the Jefferson theatre and tonight Col onel Applin will speak at the Lyric,
 Boy Scouts assisted in the handling of the vast crowd that assembled, many of them hours before time. for the addresses Although the address of Mr. Russell was made particularly to the workingmen there were many ladies present, many of them with their knitting.
 sWhiIe in Petrograd 1 called to ad- dress the national assembly. The only credentials that I had was card from the Typographical union--it was all that was necessary and I might add that it was probably the only ere dential that would have been accept ed" said Mir. Russell in introduction of himself. land that card is all that am going to offer you tonight. I am working man and it is in spirit of brotherhood that l am speaking to you here tonight"
 VALUE OF LABOR
 In speaking of the value of the la bor of the country in the present crisis and epoch in the history of the world he said You can do more in this Juncture than any man with gun on his shoulder It is our war. The only hope that we have is in the victory of democracy over autocracy. Dem ocracy is vastly more important to us than any immediate gains. When dem ocracy is destroyed, then is destroyed the chance of the workingman to bet ter his condition.
 The very principles upon which this war is being waged make it our war. Money is nothing-we have everything at stake In all of the labor troubles of the country never has there been al. issue which is as great to labor as this one.''
 MT. Russell then launched into description of the conditions abroad of the things necessary to the suc- ccssful conclusion of the war, empha sizing greatly the necessity of fur the armies that are sent to the front not only with a means of get ting there but of means of keeping them there. well fed, well clothed and equipped with the ma terials necessary to whip the Hun
 As much as by anyone other thing this war will be won by the attitude of the people al home" he said. There are many days that as many as 1,0Oo,- Do0 shells are used on the front by our allies Let me impress it upon you that this war will be fought in the factories, from the railroad yards, the farms, and from every field of industry, as much as from any of the fields of battle. Every man, woman and child must do certain things necessary to win the war
 NO TIME FOR STRIKES
 And, fellow workingmen, there is one thing that I want to impress upon you this is no time for strikes. (Applause from every part of the house followed this statement.1 I would not, for any thing in this world give out the wrong information to the men with whom my lot has been cast in an issue of this magnitude, or of any size If there is a workingman that imagines for an instant