Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-21
A SQUARE DEAL ALL AROUND.

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With the United States an active factor
in the wpr 10 mako the world safe for de-
mocracy, no bali lf-heartod service IS tolcrnt~
I'd from the sailors and soldiers who are
engaged in the actual battles against
German barbariTn.
Those who remain AZ home N work in
comparative safety must not profitecr Or
ghirk
This means that the corporations firms
or individuals who are working on con
tracts for United States government 70
supply munitions Of war or IN any work
connected with the government must
give honest value for every dollar received
II means that labor must give an honest
days work for a fair days pay i has
been shown by the records Of the past ten
months that many concerns have sacri .ced
practically al profits IN accepting govern
ment work And Others have taken huge
contracts AZ q very narrow margin Of pro
It,
Such concerns arc in every way ex-
hibiting trne American spirit. We cannot
al be "on the firing line, but complete
coordination IL needed bark " the Tst
line trenches; back Of the base ~ supplies
in France; back Of our Atlantic coast
ports; back Of the factories, to the very
mines and TO our farms.
Any limit placed on industry means that
the ghting efficiency Of the country will
be impaired.
1t is time for an awakened public 70
pronounce the verdict Of Guilty against
any corporation, firm or individual found
profting in any improper manner from
work connected with the war. Proof ot
guilt should he brought home IN such
way as to make a repetition Of the oifense
by any one too painful To he attempted
II is time that the Federal AdmlnIstra-
ton should be aided" by all patriotic
citizens in the work Of stamping out enem-
les whether alien or native born. The for
eign-born man or woman who gives com
fort to our enemies must be suppressed
either by internment, prison terms Or
execution.
For the nafive-born American, whether
of high or low station. VINO IS detected IN
helping our enemies, long prison terms or
execution for treason should be the penalty
Ii is PLAIN that the UnIted states gov
eminent is fair in its attitude toward
capital II is planning 10 give due heed 70
the Investments IN the railroads, shipping
and our other Industries. In return Tor
this, these corporations must give honest
service. Secret prouteerng by capital
awakens the cupIdIty Of labor. II IS only
human for the labOrer 20 declare L
capital can prohteer why should not de-
mand higher pay and do less work TO earn
it," The moral responsibility is greater on
capital than on labor. II our great cor
porations are 10 20 before the Court ot
Public Opinion they must do SO with cieaA
hands.
1t is time for the newspapers to preach
the patriotic responsibility Of the people
to city, State, and nation, to unite IN
preventing either greedy capital or greedy
labor from ox)lOItlng the government.
President Wis n, in his fearsessiy direct
way, has asked Tor prompt investigation
of the contracts let IN connection with ship
building plants. He has set an example Tor
every citizen to follow IN protecting our
nation against attack within. President
Wilson calls upon the Attorney-General to
make immediate Investigation and, II the
facts warrant, to begin criminal Prosecu-
ton.
If the accusations are false then the
heaviest Of penalties should be imposed
upon those responsible for them. During
the war both capital and labor should be
protected against irresponsible charges Of
profiteering or shlrking. We want the
truth but do not want TO deal in SANDERS.
Let US have a square deal all around.
Let the government be square in its
dealings with the people.
Let capital be square in its dealings with
labor
Let labor be square in its performance Of
a days work for days pay.
Labor must understand that TO start a
strike in our shipbulding plants at the
present time, when overseas transportation
Is an absolute necessity, is treasonable-
The United States government viii be
Justified in Communicating labor just rs it
has commandeered the youth Of the coun-
try TO fight its battles.
This government demands and VIII re-
ceive full service from it's citizens and no
one who is an American at heart viii be-
grudge giving the United States the best
that is in him. Our women are proving
their loyalty by entering every line Of
occupation and they are doing their part
to win the war. For organized labor to de-
mand pay TOR six hours work and then to
do less than four hours actual labor, is an
evidence of design TO aid the enemies Of
the United States. All that capital and
labor are asked by the United States is
value for value given.
This war will be won and no one,
whether millionaire or laborer, will be
allowed to block the progress Of America
in its battle for world freedom. New
York (,DrnTna rcial