The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-14
i'm LOYALTY PLEA
Santa Fe Magazine Urges Men
to- Back Up Nation.
Every One of Employees Urged
to Do Full Duty.

Seventy-five thousand employees of
the Santa Fe railway were today urged
to stand behind President Wilson in
the state of war against Germany,
when the Santa Fe Employees Maya
zine, the official company publication.
appeared with a stirring editorial deal
ing with the crisis. The magazine
pointed out that lin this war the rail-
roads are going to be a tremendous
factor" 1t asked every railroad en-
ploye, regardless of the capacity in
which he may be employed, to help
in the expeditions handling of recruits
and regulars, the safe and speedy
transportation of commissary sup
plies. ordnance and munitions.
The plea, in part, follows:
THE expeditions handling of re-
speedy transportation of commissary
supplies, ordnance and munitions is
absolutely essential.
Every railroad employe. regardless
of the capacity in which he may be
employed owes it to his country as
well as to his railroad to safeguard
the safety of every train, every bridge,
every piece of rolling stock and every
building. Every man must take a
patriotic interest in the unhampered
operation of his department and in Sc
curing the maximum efficiency.
To Be No Slackers.
I'VE know that no employe of the
Santa Fe will be found wanting. We
know every man will be on his toes to
do his bit to keep the great and COM
plicated machinery of war running
smoothly, with view to the speedieSt
possible success for the banner of his
country.
There undoubtedly will be sporadic
attempts on the part of irresponsibles
to do damage in whatever way may
hinder the operations of our army and
navy. These men must be guarded
against and mercilessly suppressed
ieniency might cost the lives of virile
Americans.
I'VE are not fighting in order that
Britain may have bread. We are not
fighting that the French may drive
the invader beyond their borders. We
are not fighting for the freedom Of
Belgium or the redemption of Serbia.
We are fighting only for the safety of
our own country and the ideals which
it must maintain or sink to the Shiny
depths of unmanly serfdom, fit sub
ject to be bullied and richly deserving
lions.
1T is true that Serbia, Belgium,
France Italy, Great Britain and Rus
STA will be aided by our efforts as a
logical sequence, but we in our turn
will be assisted by all the nations men
toned.
1t Is Our War.
But now that we are in tit is our
war. We must comport ourselves in
a manner which will leave no cause
to doubt the ultimate outcome. We
must so eXpend our energies and our
resources that in the future the Amerl-
can plea for peace is one of reason
and of good will and not of cowardice-
And the world must learn that the
spirit of Washington and Lincoln is
dominant.
Undoubtedly many Santa Fe men
will be enrolled in the fighting forces
of our country. To them we pledge
the mistaken confidence of their
brother employees in their ability to
make good and to acquit themselves
with credit to the stars and stripes,
to the railroad fraternity and to the
old road. They will be followed by
the best wishes of their present CO.
workers, and, when they return, glor-
iously triumphant, they will be well
coined again to the ranks of industrial
peace, on the road that was built by
men and is being manned by men,"