The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-07
Secretary of San Francisco
Council Writes to Governor
Explains Why Troops Should
Not Be Mustered Out There.
SAYS MANY WILL STAY
How the Town at Golden Gate
Attracts Hen With Money.
Governor Stanley Will Not Re-
ply to the Letter.

ply to the Letter.
Ed Rosenberg of San Francisco, Sec
rotary of a labor council, has written
Governor Stanley a sensational letter
concerning the mastering out of the
Kansas troops. The letter abuses both
the war department and the volunteers.
1t is as follows:
Dear Sir:-The war department has
decided to muster out all the returning
volunteers at San Francisco requests
and appeals of the people of the re-
spectiVe states who asked that the
troops be disbanded in the states they
came from having been dfsregarded.
Now the San Francisco labor council,
the federation of the trades unions of
this city, calls your attention to the
evils inevitably to result should the
war department adhere to its an
nOunced policy, in the hope that a pub
lie sentiment will be aroused strong
enough to compel the administration
to listen to common sense and plain
reason.
THE strange action Of the depart
ment in this matter can be explained
only by fnferring the following motives,
Which conditions compel us to note:
First, the desire to unduly flood the Ia
Dor market, and thus check the strug
gle of the WOrkingmen for improved
conditions; secondly, to compel the vol
unteers, driven by want and destitu-
ton, to re-enlist; thirdly, to prevent the
return of the volunteers to their homes,
where to their friends and relatives
they would undoubtedly give the true
version of the people, the climate and
the general conditions in the Philip
pines, as produced by our war of con-
quest
THE great majority of the returning
volunteers. when paid off, will quickly
spend their money-they have the SOL
der spirit and desires, and are young,
and San Francisco has the reputation
of being able and willing to furnish
to the stranger within it's gates ir-
resistible attractions. With money gone.
the destitute soldiers will be compelled
to seek work, which they, in most cases,
will not be able to find. Then want and
suffering will be their lot; for the con-
ditiOns for securing employment in San
Francisco and vicinity are different
from those in the eastern and middle
states, there being no other industrial
centers within easy reach that could
absorb surplus labor. 1t is hard to
beat the trains in the west, the rail-
roads putting off men compelled to steal
a ride mountains and in deserts,
where they often miserably perish. 1t
is certain that the railroad corporations
will show no more pity for the soldier
tramp than they do for the workman
tramp. And those fortunate enough to
secure employment here will have to
take it at lower wages. throwing out Of
work the local WOrkmen, VINO, In most
cases with families to support, in turn
would become tramps and sufferers.
Twenty-Five thousand men thrown on
TO san FRANCISCO IN a rev months VIII
cause a congestion of the labor market,
with its inevitable hardships; distribu-
ted through the respective states they
would be useful and beneficial to them
selves and their fellow citizens.
Many of the volunteers, if discharg-
ed here, will die. Destitute, without
family ties, and the sentiment of the
majority of the people turned against
them, when it is found that they are
undertaking local wOrkmen, the sold
iers, enfeebled through the hardships
in q deadly climate, will misera bly, per-
ish in cheap lodging houses, in over
crowded hospitals, and on lonely cOun-
try roads.
''Some. driven to desperation, will
re-enlist, to fight against their own
convictions, in a useless and endless
war. The Philippine swamps and Fill
pino bullets will finish the work Of de-
struction
The censor in the Philippines now
fOrbids the publication of all news that
would show up the horrors of the war
and the tremendous sacrifices the peO-
pie of this country will have to make
to conquer a warlike people, solely for
the exploitation by carpetbaggers and
corporations Returned to their homes,
the volunteers would quickly make
known to the American people the real
conditions in the Philippines and a
death kneu would soon be sounded on
the un-American policy Of conquest and
buster.
mr.. Governor:-Will the people of
to add this crime to the horrors of
Camp Chickamauga, Camp Merritt and
of EN- balned beef? Let assure you
that these horrors will pale into insig-
nificance with those to result from the
disarmament of all the volunteers in
San Francisco. We ask you to use your
utmost influence on the administration
to change its present policy regarding
the mastering out of volunteers. We
appeal to the fathers, mothers, wives,
brothers, sisters and friends of the vol
unteers to work and pray for the direct
return of their loved ones. If our APP
peal fails, there will be untold suffering
in the state of California; there will be
anguish and pain in every state that
sent her sons to fight. Mr.. Governor
and fellow citizens, let your protest and
appeal be heard loud and strong and
persistent.
Under Misrepresentation from sell
fish and interested parties, some of the
volunteer regiments have asked to be
mustered out in San Francisco, thus
supporting the war department in its
criminal policy. When the volunteers
realize what is in store for them here
they will add their voice to yours for
a discharge at home. Ask their friends
and relatives to at once communicate
with them. Only prompt action can
save crime and horror.
Trusting that this appeal of the
workingmen and women of San Fran
cisco will receive your careful consider
alton. and then hearty cooperation.
by order of the San Francisco La
Dor council. Yours sincerely,
Ed ROSENBERG,
Recording and Cor. Secretary"
Governor Stanley will make no reply
to this letter.