Denver labor bulletin., 1918-03-09

I
RADIO legislative board of the four rail-
road brotherhoods, has addressed let
ter to this states representatives in
| Congress protesting against that sec
ton of the railroad bill which pro-
poses to return the roads TO private
ownership within a specified period
after the war. Recently the national
officers of the four railroad brother
hoods made public announcement that
railroad transportation employees were
in favor of permanent government
1 ownership of the roads.
Letter to Congressman
! Following is the letter mailed to
/ the Colorado congressman and sena-
/ tors by Chairman Hynes Of the state
/ legislative board:
.'Member of Congress, Washington,
Dear Sir: A bill has been intro
duced in the House and Senate pro-
viding for the return Of the supervis-
ion of the railroads Of the United
States to their former operators. This
very unexpected and premature ac-
ton of Congress is source Of great
irritation and mistrust to the people
of the country. Such an action re-
quires much thought and serious con-
sideration in approaching It, and there
is ample time during the war, and even
after it, to inquire as TO what is best
to be done in the premises.
THE conduct of many of our So
called prominent citizens of the re-
public, principally many Of those who
are in possession of great wealth, and
who favor the passage Of such a meas
ure, has caused the people TO Sc
riously question their sincerity, and
their peculiar brand Of so-called pa
triotism This distrus- and suspicion
has so permeated and occupied the
public mind that results may follow,
which. tho not dangerous 20 the peo-
pIe. will be disastrous 60 those who
entertain and attempt Go establish such
a short-sighted policy, as has been eN-
hibited in the past few years, more
particularly since the war.
Hypocrisy and Treachery.
Investigations taken by authority,
under the sworn statements Of COM
petent witnesses. have shown that men
who are massing immense fortunes at
the expense of the people, and taking
advantage of the couuury's distress,
and by their hypocrisy and treacher-
ous actions have brought about
strikes, lockouts and discomfort, and
in the same breath call on subsidized
press to denounce the worker as un-
patriotic. When we consider these
matters in connection with the fur
ther betrayal, which now demon
strated that men placed IN highly
responsible positions who volunteered
for the work, and boastingly claim
that their salary IS 81 per year, and
at the same time accept Of positions
from the profiteers. who are paying
them many thousands of dollars a
year. are surely and certainly break
ing the confidence of the people IN
the boasted patriotism of those pos
SCISSORS of wealth In what way does
the treachery of such men differ from
the perfidy of the pro-German, or
alien plotter, against our government
If the spy receives the death sentence
which he deserves, surely such trail
tors as | have just mentioned cannot,
at least ought not escape. If these
men. or their tools in Congress, or
out of it for that matter, believe that
the people are not alive and alert to
such conduct and treachery, then al
low me to remind them that they
were never more mistaken in any one
thing in their whole lives. The people
have their ear 70 the ground, and
their intelligence and true sense of
PATRIOTISM Will bt ltSNeN W SuSh al
extent that the trcachery of such men
will receive the punishment which
probably they little dreamed Of.
Changes Are at Our Door.
The American PEOPLE love their
country with a devotion, that the sac
ritices of life itself in her defense
would be made with joy and eNalta-
tion, but stupid is h. indeed who can
not see. understani and appreciate
the trend of the times and the changes
that are at our doors. These changes
will make for the GOOD of the whole
people. and it will not be done by
methods advocated ny the l. W. W,
the Socialist or E1lshevik. 1t will
be done by the intelligence of the
American people. backed by their pa
triotism, love and sense of justice, and
inspired by the gryar principles enun-
ciated by our President.
He or she, who does not at this
crisis, support this government, by
every possible means in their power,
and who is not wiling to make any
sacrifices to bring this war to a sue
cessful issue, whether it takes n year
or fifty years, is not worthy of the
protection and privileges which they
h,. Of 4bnir .iti-nps kir,