The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-25
ANTl-MILtrARY EMPLOYERS.


employers who seek to keep their
mel from doing their military duty
presents an interesting subject for
study as to the best method of 'ap-
preaching this troublesome problem,
says the Army and Navy Journal. Re
Gently eight men of the 9Th Company,
stationed at Norwalk, presented let
tiers from their employers forbidding
them to leave their work to go to
camp, and they were excused by the
captain. Thereupon Adjutant William
E. Warner sent from the headquar-
tiers at Stamford the following letter
to Capt. Albert Mossman. command
Ing the Norwalk company:
The colonel is not disposed to ex
cuse these men without more explicit
particulars. He directs me to inform
the employers that every man who
absents himself, without being espe-
cially excused by him, will be fined
SIS for each day of such unexcused
absence. He deeply regrets the atti
tude taken by employers in these
cases, and believes they should be In
formed that their unpatriotic spirit is
viewed with such alarm in various
parts Of the country as to provoke
special state legislation. Employers
as rule belong to that class who
cry first and loudest for Militia pro-
lection in times of lawlessness or ma
tional danger. He authorizes you to
show this letter to them and to ap.
peal to their sense of patriotic citi-
zenship.,
The result OF this firm stand by
Colonel Fitch was an agreeable sur
Prise and should be lesson to other
regimental commanders. All of the
eight appeared in camp for a period
4 Of DUTY. 1t may seem that this action
of Colonel Fitch would work hard
ship to men by putting them in po-
/ sition where they would be fined for
not defying their employers. On this
Epoint Colonel Fitch says: AT first
blush 1t might appear that was I'm
duly severe, but | wish to say that
have become tired of going to EN-
t
men go to camp. used to do that
very gayly once upon time, but
when during certain big strike dis.
order found the loudest call for Ma
tional Guard defense came from an
employer who had been the meanest
in letting his men off for camp, lost
willingness to plead with employers
right then and there. / have found
that when employers learn that q
mere refusal of theirs Is followed
with no hardship either to them or te
their employees they naturally are
tempted to keep their men away from
camp When they find that the mer
will suffer by it the whole aspect o.
the matter is changed. Then they
realize the Importance of state mill
, tary service, then they understand
: that it is no child's game, that camT
duty is something more than mere
recreational outing
2 when man lays down before hi!
!. employer an order from his command
r ing officer that means fine If h,
is absent the employer sees things IL
new light Nor do ! believe tina
. such action as mine will discourag,
e recruiting in making men fear to los'
3 their Jobs. I do not believe that an.
employer will think less of mai
who will not shirk his duty. Whel
he comes to think OF the matter seri
= ously In the light of a possible fin,
he will realize that man whom hi
employer helps to shirk state dut,
: will Just as easily be led to shirk hi
duty toward his employer. Hereto
, fore when simple refusal from tn
= employer was sufficient to Keep hi
men In the factory or office, he mai
: urally held military duty in ligh
estimation, but with fine staring hi
men in the face 1t is quite differen
- matter"
What with labor unions demandin
that their members shall not joi
the National Guard and many en-
: lployers taking the same position tn
state Militia is certainly between tw
&c fires. That there should be oppos
nc ZION lTolH Two SUCH Wlutty separate
a classes as the unions and the emplo.
90 ers is altogether remarkable. On
10 would imagine naturally that tb
IS. very opposition of the labor bodie
ne would stimulate the employers
RS even more generous exhibition {
ell sympathy with the Organized Militi
but it seems in many instances
have just the contrary effect. "
may remark in passing that if !
ur cases of strikes the labor unions wei
an in the habit of calling upon the N
he tional Guard as frequently as do me
1w OF business influence, the form
he would be altogether too wise in tim
ur- of order and quiet to set their fac
ak, against the Guard, and we can lima
re, inc them urging all their members
ON JON the Militia. BY this we do n
eli. mean to be understood as saying tn
ger business men call out the Guard
700 / against the working man, on t