The Espionage and Sedition Acts.-By the Espionage law of June 15,1917,and the amending law,known as the Sedition act,passed in May of the fol-lowing year,the government was given a drastic power over the expression of opinion.The first measure penalized those who conveyed information to a for-eign country to be used to the injury of the United States;those who made false statements designed to interfere with the military or naval forces of the United States;those who attempted to stir up insubordination or disloyalty in the army and navy;and those who willfully obstructed enlistment.The Sedition act was still more severe and sweeping in its terms.It imposed heavy penalties upon any person who used "abusive language about the government or institutions of the country."It authorized the dismissal of any officer of the government who committed "disloyal acts"or uttered "disloyal language,"and empowered the Postmaster General to close the mails to persons violating the law.This mea-sure,prepared by the Department of Justice,encountered vigorous opposition in the Senate,where twenty-four Republicans and two Democrats voted against it.Senator Johnson of California denounced it as a law "to suppress the free-dom of the press in the United States and to prevent any man,no matter who he is,from expressing legitimate criticism concerning the present government."The constitutionality of the acts was attacked;but they were sustained by the Supreme Court and stringently enforced.
The Launching of a Ship at the Great Naval Yards,Newark,N.J.
Labor and the War.-In view of the restlessness of European labor during the war and especially the proletarian revolution in Russia in November,1917,some anxiety was early expressed as to the stand which organized labor might take in the United States.It was,however,soon dispelled.Samuel Gompers,speaking for the American Federation of Labor,declared that "this is labor's war,"and pledged the united support of all the unions.There was some dis-sent.The Socialist party denounced the war as a capitalist quarrel;but all the protests combined were too slight to have much effect.American labor leaders were sent to Europe to strengthen the wavering ranks of trade unionists in war-worn England,France,and Italy.Labor was given representation on the impor-tant boards and commissions dealing with industrial questions.Trade union standards were accepted by the government and generally applied in industry.The Department of Labor became one of the powerful war centers of the nation.In a memorable address to the American Federation of Labor,President Wilson assured the trade unionists that labor conditions should not be made unduly onerous by the war and received in return a pledge of loyalty from the Federa-tion.Recognition of labor's contribution to winning the war was embodied in the treaty of peace,which provided for a permanent international organization to promote the world-wide effort of labor to improve social conditions."The league of nations has for its object the establishment of universal peace,"runs the preamble to the labor section of the treaty,"and such a peace can be estab-lished only if it is based upon social justice....The failure of any nation to adopt humane conditions of labor is an obstacle in the way of other nations which de-sire to improve the conditions in their own countries."
The American Navy in the War.-As soon as Congress declared war the fleet was mobilized,American ports were thrown open to the warships of the Allies,immediate provision was made for increasing the number of men and ships,and a contingent of war vessels was sent to co?perate with the British and French in their life-and-death contest with submarines.Special effort was made to stimulate the production of "submarine chasers"and "scout cruisers"to be sent to the danger zone.Convoys were provided to accompany the trans-ports conveying soldiers to France.Before the end of the war more than three hundred American vessels and 75,000officers and men were operating in Eu-ropean waters.Though the German fleet failed to come out and challenge the sea power of the Allies,the battleships of the United States were always ready to do their full duty in such an event.As things turned out,the service of the American navy was limited mainly to helping in the campaign that wore down the submarine menace to Allied shipping.
The War in France.-Owing to the peculiar character of the warfare inFrance,it required a longer time for American military forces to get into ac-tion;but there was no unnecessary delay.Soon after the declaration of war,steps were taken to give military assistance to the Allies.The regular army was enlarged and the troops of the national guard were brought into national ser-vice.On June 13,General John J.Pershing,chosen head of the American Ex-peditionary Forces,reached Paris and began preparations for the arrival of our troops.In June,the vanguard of the army reached France.A slow and steady stream followed.As soon as the men enrolled under the draft were ready,it be-came a flood.During the period of the war the army was enlarged from about 190,000men to 3,665,000,of whom more than 2,000,000were in France when the armistice was signed.
