The Washington herald., 1917-02-19
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

1T doesn't matter II the Socialists Of
Germany did back down on the war prop
csition. they did just what American
Socialists are going to do very soon" said
Fred. Won Mulhausen, Of Milwaukee. Wis.,
who fs stopping at the willard.
Previous to the war" said Mr.. Null
hansen, ''the Socialists, both IN France AND
Germany. were busy on plans that they
were sure would have averted the chances
OF a great conflict. such as II going on
now. ] am Socialist and / know what
am talking about A few years ago a
movement was on foot, both in France
and Germany, to have the two countries
form an alliance. Germany was willing.
but she stipulated such terms that the
French could not be blamed for turning
down the idea France was to humiliate
herself
'sThe Socialists were really stronger In
France than they were In Germany, al
though they were not IN such great num-
bers. France being a republic, there was
more chance for the principles Of Social
ism to be worked out Many German
Socialists are exiled from Germany. ano
at the beginning Of the war some of them
who were home, faced firing sousda. You
will recall the assa assination of the French
Socialist, Jaures. This act was not done
by a personal enemy, but by an enemy OF
government by and for the people.
1T Is a puzzle just what some OF the
European governments are going 10 90
when the people who have fought and
given their all for their country. ask Tor
more freedom and less taxes.
Rosa Luxemborg. a German woman
Socialist, met the same fate as Jsures'
and the German government was RESPONSE
bic for her death Numerous others went
the same way, and the governments re-
sponsible lost the support OF. sno ols-
rusted many a Socialist, who would no"
he doing his bit instead Of hiding IN
foreign country.
when war Is declared in this country
against Germany. thousands -ot your
Socialists are going TO throw their doe'
trines to the winds and fight. Just as the
Germans did.
"ope q, the greatest faults of the
present tie-up OF our railway facilities
Is the large class of poorly PAID rai'
road workers. who cannot, ana 90 no
respond to the extraordinary strain pu
upon them" said Calvin E. Hughes. e1
superintendent OF one OF the VESTS lsrg
est railroad shops, who halls from Sal
Lake City, Utah, and who Is stoppin'
at the Shorehsm.
II know from my experience OF twent!
wears" ne went on. that properly PAX
help can accomplish twice as much a
! men who do not get enough In their pa!
envelopes TO genertae the steam Of smoi
ton. From my observations, made our
| ing longtime contact with all cissse
of railroad employees, / have come
the same conclusion that Henry For
put through, despite his critics: that o
| high wages and high class workmen goinl
together"
There are nearly three millions o
underpaid. inefficient railroad worker
who are not interested q great oes
whether the railroads move the enormou
amount OF freight on time or not o
course making due allowance for tn
extra amount to be hauled. and the ca
factories which are making shells in
stead OF making cars. IS per cent o
| the trouble is that the men who sctualt
grab hold OF the freight OF the countr'
have not gotten the pay increases the,
should have gotten.
Consequently we have what amount
| TO almost the lowest class OF workers
on a hurry-up Job. and not at all II
| a hurry. You cannot. in any line OF busi
ness. expect a mass Of underpsid. down
trodden workers TO be at the highes
efficiency. However. IL is one Of the zen
| aIties we are payinc to keep out OF war
| In many sections. trsfic is so slow, be
cause Of shells and munitions that hsv,
| to be hauled. that some crooked specu
lator gets on the job and corners tn
commodity that he oughtn't to corner
and YOU and 7 pay the price
THE eisht-hour day is lovely Joke.