The Washington times., 1911-02-26

this manner We will ask the 500O,0 900
voters of this country to say to Mr..
Taft by letter, give these people their
constitutional rights or under pain of
| suspension we will cast our vote
against you If you should ask for it in
1872
Now. my friends, the most import
ant question before US tonight Is in
creased pay and efficient service Our
Congressman and Senators when they
recently increased their pay 80 per cent
made an implied contract with this vast
army Of Government workers to give
you the same ratio of increased pay, in
fact they debated in the halls of Con-
gress to the effect that the new cost of
living, which was fully 80 per cent more
than ten years ago, made ii necessary
for this so per cent increase. Doesn't
this same rule apply all the way down
the line and more SO at the very bot
tom, as those who receive the smallest
pay cannot obtain even the bare neces-
stiles OF life.
Congress recently sent a delegation of
distinguished men all over the world
| to study the plans and buildings 0f the
beautiful cities in order to adapt b plan
to make Washington the most beautiful
white marble city Of the world. Now
what would our voters think when they
came to Washington II they saw the
same class of buildings We had sixty
years ago when your present ration Of
pay was established Now that cur
beautiful marble buildings are the pride
of our city, why should We not increase
the efficiency and the pay of our en-
ployes to harmonic with these mag
nif1cent buildings.
Appeal for Letter Fight.
I'VE will now make our appeal to the
voters of this country to carry on the
most stupendous letter writing campaign
in the interest of the cause ever known.
Each one of you write letter to
your Congressman and Senator urging
him to support this measure at the next
session of Congress Write the Presi-
dent of the United States asking him to
remove the orders that deny the Gov
ernment employees their constitutional
rights, and in answer tell him that
under pain of suspension you will not
vote for him in 1872 If he does not re-
store to the Government employees their
constitutional rights. Another thing, go
to your minister; ask him to proclaim
this cause from the pulpit, asking his
man and Senator and also the President
on the same line; also go to your county
or town newspaper, requesting the edi-
tor to write favorably on the subject,
advising their subscribers to write to
their Congressman and Senator and the
President on the same lines. To you
who are members of societies or labor
organizations, bring II up at your next
meeting, advising all your members to
write to their Congressman and Senator
on the same subject, and don't forget to
call on the school children to help you
in writing these letters. Remember, the
success Of this cause rests upon you.
Be prompt in taking up this work, and
this cause depends upon you. Co
operate with me, please; remember you
are working for your sons, your daugh-
ters, near relatives, and friends You
are doing great deal of good, and you
are helping to make our Government
the model employer of the world.
Now, l will call for washington's
end OF this work. We have in Wash
ington about 2S,0OO Government en-
ployes: and each one should have at
interested in them. This should make
100000 volunteer letter writer's"
Mr.. West observed that when the
whole letter writing campaign as out
lined by Mr.. Gordon had been COM
pleted, the Government would have
made enough extra money on postage
to pay for the increase IN the clerks
salaries for years to come.
\ Unfairness of Pay.
Representative Davis, who spoke next,
said he had made an Investigation of
the salary question of the Government
employees. He said he was convinced
that 75 per cent of the clerks We're not
receiving one-half the pay they were
entitled to; that some were not getting
one-fourth they needed, whereas a large
number of those drawing from $3.50 to
$500, were getting much more than
they were entitled to-
"As for the efficiency of the Govern
ment employees" said the speaker, II
know 1t to be a fact that should the
whole Cabinet take summer OF and