Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-07
RAILROAD MEN
TAKE FIRM STAND
FOR PROHIBITION
Lodge 574, Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen, Score
Booze During War

At a largely attended meeting of
lodge 574. Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, last evening, set of reso-
lutions were drawn supporting war
time prohibition and criticising the
attitude of Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor. Postmaster General Burleson,
President Hurley and cambridge
Colby. of the United States Shipping
Board, who gave adverse criticism
on wartime prohibition before the
agricultural committee of the Sem
ate.
The resolutions will be sent to
the Senate through the districts
senator's, and to the House through
the representatives of the district
C. S. Fisher, I'LL State street, is
president of lodge No. STA. The reso-
lutions follow:
Whereas, success in war depends
as much upon those engaged in la.
Dor in the essential industries at
home as 1t does upon those who fight
in the trenches in Europe or on the
ships upon the high seas, and
Whereas, men in the Army and
Navy are forbidden the use of in
toXicating liquors because such use
prevents clear thinking, prompt ac-
tion, power of endurance, and the
most efficient service, and
Whereas, men in the workshop or
elsewhere possess the same kind of
bodies and faculties as the soldier
and must be affected in the same
way by the use of intoxicating liz
quors, and
Whereas, Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation of
Labor, in common with President
Hurley and Rainbridge Colby, of the
United States Shipping Board. and
Postmaster General Burleson, gave
so-called testimony before the agri-
States Senate adverse to the enact
ment of nationwide prohibition,
| therefore
Resolved, That we, Lodge 574,
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,
| commend highly the efficient serv-
ice of President Samuel, Gompers
along labor lines and his loyalty and
intense Americanism in the present
national crisis. yet we emphatically
condemn his mistaken judgment in
his so-called testimony before the
agricultural committee of the United
States Senate as untrue to the real
attitude of labor as a whole to-
wards the use of intoxicating liquors.
While he probably expresses the
sentiments of the 10000 brewery
workers, he dod not express the sem
| tiInents of the 100000 railroad en-
| ployes engaged in the transporta-
| ton service alone, all of whom are
! forbidden by rule even to frequent
places where liquors are sold.
Resolved, That we are amazed at
| the testimony of Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson and wonder whether
he would accept for failure in the
performance of duty on the part of
any employe the excuse that he was
| an time Democrat simply exer-
cising his right of personal liberty
| to take a drink.
Resolved, That we rejoice in our
American citizenship, and we pledge
ourselves to live up to our motto of
! 'benevolence, sobriety and industry
and further pledge our all, both ply
sically and financially, TO our govern
ment for the successful prosecution
| of the war to the end that liberty
shall not die.
Resolved, That we urge the Unit
| ed States Senate and the House of
| Representatives speedily to unite in
passing a law enacting nationwide
! prohibition during the war.
Resolved, That a copy of these
resolutions be sent to the United
States Senate through each of our
United States senators, and to the
| House of Representatives through
our congressman, Aaron S. Kreider." !"