The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-06-20
HOLDS TWO GREAT MEETINGS
Tells Men of American Brass and the
Macomber & Whyte Rope Co. Their
Greatest Duty to Themselves is to
Aid the Nation in It's Crisis.

Stirring appeals were made to men
OF Kenosha to aid the government in
its hour of need today when J. T..
johnson, of the Emergency Shipping
Board Of the United States govern
ment, came to the city and conducted
two wonderful inspiring meetings, the
first at the plant of the American
Brass Company, and the second at the
plant of the Macomber and Whyte
Company, both of which companies
are aiding the government in meeting
the great demand for ships.
johnson, ship builder for thirty
five years and one Of those hundred
per cent patriots who reach the hearts
of fellow patriots, stirred his Kenosha
audiences to the highest enthusiasm.
Twelve hundred employees of the
American Brass Company cheered him
in his first speech and four hundred
more re-echoed the cheers when he
spoke at the rope plant.
The Since band turned out to rem
der another patriotic service and the
music of the band added much to the
success of the meetings.
AT the conclusion of his talks, Mr.
Johnson asked the men to pledge them
selves in the following words to the
service of the country, which pledge
was taken unanimously by the men,
repeating after him tie words, with
barred heads and uplifted hand:
pledge my allegiance to my
country and flag; and so long as
this war shall last I'll stick to my
job; III do an honest days work,
and whatever the President of
the United States wants me to
do-SO HELP NE GOD.
Mr.. Johnson was accompanied by
Mr.. Lennon, whose work is to arrange
the business details connected with
these speaking tours. The entire work
is being done under Chas. A. Eaton,
national service section of the Emerg-
ency Fleet Corporation, who has done
such wonderful work in afousing the
patriotism of the men throughout the
ship yards of the country.
The address of Mr.. Johnson was the
best patriotic address delivered in Ke-
nosha for many months and every
man in Kenosha, who works and who
believes in his country, is urged to
read it. He said:
~ don't know, men, just how much
time [ am allowed to speak this morn
ing, but do know this, that I have to
address another body of mensin your
city at 1880, SO I will let you, out by
that time anyway.
was just a little surprised this
morning coming from the depot over
here when I asked how many men were
employed in this plant and when the
number was told me, began to get
a little bit weak.
I am proud to know men that we
have a great army of workers like I
see before me here today. I want you
to get one idea in your mind to begin
with; want this to. 60 to your heart;
/ want you to remember it am not
here in the interest of this company
or in the interest of this corporation.
I amehere in the interest of the Ameri-
can government. J am here as a repre-
sentative of the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration. The only interest I have is
to bring the message to you from them
and so far as | am individually con-
cerned, I don t give a snap of my
finger, men, whether this company
makes one single dollar Of us as long as
this war lasts. The only thing [ am in
terested in is In the Stars and Stripes.
/ have never been known or classed
as a speaker. I have never been known
or classed as an orator, but, when it
comes to ship building or something at
the bench and performing days work
believe me, don take off my over
alls and lay them aside for any man.
Thirtyfve long years / have stood at
the bench and I have worked in over
alls. I started out in life at the age
of eighteen without a dollar in the
world and the only thing I have now
is a wife and seven children and /
think ! have done pretty well.
am nothing more than a working
man today. | was virtually com
Wandered from one of, the greatest
ship building plants ON the Pacific
coast TO engage IN this work. I have
two boys in the service today and when
my country called for me | said |
would go anywhere; / will do anything
my country wants me to 90.
Before April 8, 1917, when war was
declared by the United States govern
meRt against Germany, there was no
man in California that was more bit
terly opposed to war than your hum