A CLARION CALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 29, 29 October 1918, Page 8

A CLARION CALL

LABOUR DAY IN AMERICA

PRESIDENT, WILSON'S •MESSAGE

All Americans are addressed as fellowenlisted men of a'single Army of many parts, but commanded by a single obligation, by President Wilson in a Day message recently mode public at' tho; White House:—The President's message follows :— "My Fellow Citizens:— "Labour Day, 1918, : is not like any Labour Day that we have known. Labour Day was always deeply significant with us. Now it is supremely significant. Keenly as wo were aivare a year ago of the 'enterprise of life and death upon which tho nation had embarked, we did not perceive its meaning as cjearly as we do now. We knew that we were all

partners, and must stand and strivo together, but we did not realise, as we do now, Hint we are all enlisted, members of a single Army, of many parts and many tasks, but commanded by a single obligation, our laces set tow.ard a. single object.. Wo now know that every tool in every essential industry is a weapon, and a weapon wielded for tho same purpose that an army riflo is wielded—a weapon which, if wo wero to lay down, no rifle would be of any use. "And a weapon for what? Wha*. is the war for? Why are we enlisted? vvny should we hi ashamed if we were no!: enlisted? At first, it seemed hardly more than a war of defence ngainst the military aggression of Germany. Belgium had been violated, France invaded, and Germany was afield again, «s in 1870 and 1866, to work out her ambitions'in Europe; and-it was ".necessary to meet her force with force. But it is clear now that it is much mure than n war to alter Jhe balance of power in Europe. Germany, it is now plain, was striking at what frea men everywhere desire and must have—the right tptdetermine their own fortunes, to insist upon justice, and to oblige governments to «ct and not'for the private and selfish interest of a governing class. It is a war to make the nations and peoples of the world secure against every such power as the German autocracy represents. It is war of emancipation. ..Not until it is won can men anywhere live free from constant fear or breathe freely while they go about their daily tasks and know that governments are their servants, not their masters. "This is,, therefore, the war "of all wars, which Labour should support and support with all its concentrated power. The world cannot be safe men's lives cannot bo secure, no man's rights can be confidently Und wiccessfully asserted against the rule and mastery of arbitrary groups and special interests so long as Governments Ijke that which, after long premeditation, drew Austria and Germany into this war are permitted to control tho destinies and the daily fortunes of men and nations, plotting while honest men work, laying the fires ol which innocent men, women, and children are to be Hie fuel.

"You know tho nature of this war. It' is a war which industry must sustain. The army of labonrers at home is as important, as essential as the army of fighting men in the far fields of actual battle. And tho labourer is needed as much.as the Soldier. It is his war. Tho soldier is his champion and .representative. To fail to win would be to imperil everything that the labourer has striven for and held dear since freedom first had its dawn and its struggle ioijustice began. , ,-

"The soldiers at the front know this. It steels their muscles to think of it. They aro crusaders. They are fighting for no selfish advantage for their own nation.' They would despise nny one who fought for the selfish advantage of any nation. They aro giving their lives that homes everywhere, as well as the homes they love in America, may bo kept sacred and safe and men everywhere bo free and insist upon being free. They are fighting foi* the-ideals of their own land—great ideiiis, immortal ideals, ideals which shall light t£o way for nil men to the places where jystico is done and men live with lifted heads and enianci* pated spirits. That is the reason they .fight with eolemn joy. and are invincible. "Let us make this, therefore, a uity oi fresh comprehension not only of what wo aro about and of renewed and cleareyed resolution, but a day of consecration, also in which we devote ourselves without pause or limit to the great taslc of setting our own country nnd the wholf world free to render justice to all and of making it impossible for small groups of political rulers anywhere to disturb our 'peace or the peace of the world or in any way to mako tools and puppets of those upon whose consent and upon whose power fheir own authority ana their own very existence depend. "Wo may count upon each other, TJ«» nation is of a ; single mind. It is taking counsel with no special class. It is sewing no private or single interests. Its own mind has been cleared and fortified by these days which turn the dross away. The light of a new conviction has penetrated to every class hmong us. AVn realise as we never realised before that we lire comrades dependent upon one another, irresistible when united, powerless when divided'. And so we join hands to lead tho world to a' new and better day."

(Sgd.) WOODEOW WILSON,

UNION COMPANY UNDER ■"'■- CRITICISM

BY AUCKLAND SHIPPERS,

The Union Company's action in not sending the Tahme to Tonga on to-mor-row's island trip considerably agitated the minds of shippers- and merchants in Auckland.. The Chamber of Commerce took the matter up, find telegrams were dispatched to the company and to the Prime Minister, including one to Mr. Massey by Mr. Millar, the ogent of the Tonga'n Government, who stated , that foodstuffs were urgently needed there, and that the dislocation of trado would be a serious matter. The head office of the Union.Company replied to the Chamber of Commerce that consequent on unforeseen delay, met with on' the Talune's coastal trip miido for pressing requirements for Auckland, which could only thus bo met at that timo it hns become necessary to omit the calls at the Friondly T slands this trip, otherwise serious loss would be sustained by fruit shippers at Fiji. The omission will, however, involve only a few'days''extra, delay in deliveries at the Friendly Islands, as the Talune will leave promptly onfthe return to Suva, and thenco to Tonga direct. Mr. Burns pointed out that the telegram explaining the matter is unsatisfactory, and that any excuse the company could offer could not get away from the fact that one Tongnn trip would be omitted, and goods now on order in Auckland would be three weeks late in delivery. There would also be no opportunity for Tonga people to communicate with Now Zealand, and as the proposal would mean that an interval of seven weeks would lapse during which theso people could get into touch with New Zealand, they would have no opportunity to order goods and necessaries for the next boat. This would result in Auckland merchants and others being seriously affected, • while Tonga people would be unable to get their Christmas goods. . .. ■ Since the- above was written the Union Company, in reply to n, second: telegram, informed'the chamber that it had been decided to include all Tongan ports in the Tnluno's itinerary thie trip. She will pail at noon to-jnorrow for Fiji, Samoa, and Friondly Islands.