The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-01-24
SPRUCE CONSCR|PT
MAKES LOUD HOWL

| Ht lOllOWluS lelltI was 6lNtl
first place on the first page of the
Seattle Star last Friday;
Joyce, Wssh
Editor The Star: The article ap-
pearing in The Star some days ago
about Camp Lewis, written by a
soldier there, was read by everybody
here with infinite approval, for
it was absolutely true in every de-
tail know it to be true, for | was
there some weeks myself
Conditions in the Spruce Divi-
sion are not bit better. We were
shipped out here into the wilder
ness, to work for Siems-C arey-H. S.
Kerbaugh Corporation, and civilian
bosses we're put over us. We were
told that we would have the same
rights as civilians, but we soon
found that we had been terribly
misinformed. The civilians in camp
were treated better in every respect.
Soldiers worked beside Greek la
borers for 40 cents an hour, while
they received 60 cents, and the SOL
diers did more work than they. The
civilians could stay in when they
wanted to, but soldiers had to work
in all kinds of weather, and we GER
tainly had some bad weather. The
only place where we could buy
clothes was at the civilian commits
sary. They didn't get the much
needed rain clothes, shoes, etc, for
long time, and when they did get
them in stock, such high prices were
charged that it took all we could
earn to get the necessary clothing.
Rain hats, which sold in town for
so cents, were sold to the soldiers
for 81. Overalls which in town sold
for $3.50, out in camp sold for Sc.
Everything else the same. We had
W DuN IIG oIull. III VIC Nouluh GOV
to town and get it.
"In some places they actually had
two prices for things-the higher
one for soldiers and the lower for
civilians. We were Disseminated
against in many other ways, indi-
vidually and collectively, because
we could not quit
when the armistice was signed,
everybody went wild with JOY at
the prospect of getting back to civil
lization again. We were told that
we'd go home pretty soon. All the
civilians were shipped out, and the
soldiers were kept to do the work of
cleaning up, for which we received
no pay. The squadrons which had
been here but a short time were
shipped out first. The work of
cleaning up was slowed down for
some reason or other.
I'VE have been here six months.
Many of us have jobs and families
waiting for us, and we are kept
here to do work, which is not neces-
sary We are a homesick, sullen
bunch. Why don't they send us
home? A lot of boys would like to
know what is wrong. Stems Carey
H. S. Kerbaugh Corporation must be
making money off us, or they would
not want to hold us. What is con-
scripted labor in time of peace.
"A SPRUCE HOUND"
If such a condition existed in the
Stems Carey-H. S. Kerbaugh Cor
poration's spruce camp in Clallum
County or anywhere else the Secre-
tary of War and the members of
Congress ought to know it. This
is matter that calls for investiga-
ton.
Think of it! Men wearing the
uniform of the United States sub
iected to a condition of involuntary
servitude TO make money for
"paytriotic" gang of exploiters of
both, the Government and their en-
ployees.
Men compelled to scab and dis
grace the uniform of a country at
war for the preservation of democ-
racy!
This was done, if done at all, un-
der the supervision of General Brice
P. Disque, and if charges be proven
true the General may have to send
his own uniform to a laundry.
This is a foretaste of what the
members of the l.. L. l.. l.. will get
as employees of corporation like
the one complained of by "A Spruce
Hound"
viii somebody with means and
authority find out the truth or falls