by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent

The news and headlines from The Daily Capital Journal:

SAY GERMANS LOST 90,000 SOLDIERS IN FIGHT ON THE YSER
Russians Have Gained Control of East Prussian Frontier Railroads
GERMAN FRONTIER REACHED IN POLAND
German Attack Weakens and Allies Are Satisfied to Take A Rest

MODERN WARFARE IS A MECHANICAL SCIENCE
Generals Work in Pajamas and Direct Movements of Troops on Maps

ATTACKS FURIOUS BUT ALLIES FIRM; LOSSES TERRIFIC
German Veterans Do All That Soldiers Can Do But Are Held In Check
FIGHT LIKE DEMONS BUT RESULT IS DRAW
French War Officials Say Climax Is Approaching – German Attack Weakening

The paper, reporting the American Federation of Labor convention in Philadelphia, had the following headline:

MOTHER JONES IS BITTER IN ATTACK
Says Rockefeller Works for Jesus but Hires Gunmen – Scores President

Philadelphia, Nov. 13. – Samuel Gompers introduced “Mother” Jones, the famous woman strike leader, to the American Federation of Labor convention here today. She was given an enthusiastic reception by the delegates.

“Mother” Jones denounced both President Wilson and John D. Rockefeller.

“Rockefeller works for Jesus but sends his gunmen against the miners when they strike,” she said. “If President Wilson were a real man he would give Rockefeller just five days to settle the disagreement in Colorado.

“The Colorado fight is not for increased wages but for constitutional rights. Colorado has the finest labor laws of any state in the union but they have been set aside by high class burglars.

“The fight in Colorado, West Virginia and Michigan is a fight for the bread. The rights of the miners in Colorado were disregard by the Colorado Fuel and Iron company.

“Men of America, you will never guess the atrocities committed against workingmen in Colorado unless another Victor Hugo comes to portray them. Children were burned and others, without food, wasted away until death relieved their sufferings. Upon the mangled hearts of these children is built Rockefeller’s wealth.

“When I heard the screams of those dying children, I said, ‘oh my God! I wish I could send those screams to Washington. Perhaps they would move the president to action.’”

“Mother” Jones would get her wish for another Victor Hugo in John dos Passos and his U. S. A. Trilogy (The 42nd Parallel, 1919, The Big Money). She would have been disappointed, though, as Dos Passos would eventually campaign for Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon.

Americans cherish the Monroe Doctrine. A global war in a world increasingly interconnected through trade would, as the headline on page three stated:

UNCLE SAM HANDED A KNOTTY PROBLEM

That a new construction of the Monroe doctrine from the German viewpoint may be put up to President Wilson and the state department if the United States, even in the slightest degree, attempts to interfere with shipment of coal in German vessels from South American countries was the declaration here today of a high diplomat. It was pointed out that America does not attempt to prevent the shipment of arms and ammunition from Canada to England, and, therefore, Germany is ready to ask why America should complain if another part of America, equally affected as Canada by the Monroe doctrine, makes contraband shipments in German vessels.

If America has the power, Germany will contend, to prevent contraband shipments from Ecuador and Columbia, it has equal power to prevent contraband shipments from Canada.

Editorially, the paper compared the northwest’s approval of prohibition with the migration of Canada geese (using a fowl analogy to show the paper’s opinion, and written before global warming reduced the need to fly so far):

Evidently the election returns have just reached the wild fowl districts and the news that Oregon and Washington are dry caused quick action among the web-footed birds. Wednesday night the sky was filled with geese whose clamorous honking was heard all night. The birds showed wisdom, too, for they were all headed for California. One thing is certain, a goose with all its alleged silliness will not stand for a dry country, and it draws the line just where the wet fellows do – at water.