The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-15
UNION OF CITIZENS
IDEA INVESTIGATED
To Determine It's Feasibility AS a
Means to Protect American Com
munities From Possible Food
or Fuel Famines.

New York, May l5--An investiga-
tion OF the zone big union of citizens
idea and its feasibility in protecting
American communities from possible
fuel or food famines during strikes is
now under way by 10 members of the
| New York state chamber of commerce
recently appointed by the president of
the organization as Il committee on
public welfare"
Revolutionary labor upheavals and
strikes designated as outlaw waIkouts
by union officials and the employment
/ OF volunteer Americans in keeping the
| channels of communication and trans
portation open, are the objects. 1t is
said, of the chambers present inquiry.
The chamber for several weeks has
been listing and classifying volunteers
who, with no antagonism toward UNI
ions or partisan interest in labor quar-
rels, obligate themselves TO operate
motor trucks or do any other work
necessary to keep the nations CONNER
cial arteries open in times OF stress, To
prevent the tying up and throttling OF
whole communities" the committee
has received hundreds of responses to
blank questionnaries specifying the
ability and equipment of the various
volunteers. Their occupation, home
| addresses and telephone numbers, to-
gether with other similar data, are in
possession of the committee which, in
time of crisis, may be utilized
The chamber at a recent meeting au.
thorizing the appointment of the com
mittee by President Alfred +. MarEng
passed resolutions in which it said that
civilization is now menaced by false
and distorted and political ideas and
the public welfare demands that the
men and women of the nation who
hold TO high ideals of personal and POI
litical conduct, who believe in sound
economic principles and in eonstitu-
titnal government, shall undertake
more resolutely to fulfill their civic
duties The resolution further dc.
clared that the structure of govern
ment and society as a whole was i'm
porilled by the interruption of the
normal channels. of communication and
public service due to IAN irresponsible
minority of the population OF the
United States 1t further stated that
the duties Of the committee on public
welfare should be to draw up "a plan
II organization and cooperation, where.
by the public may, by volunteer serv-
ice, aid IN maintaining the uninter-
rupted use OF public utilities and as
sist the duly constituted authorities in
preserving law and order"
Many interesting letters accompanied
the applications OF volunteers. A doe
tor, who formerly was a telegraph OPP
orator, offered his services in any ca
pacity for "the maintenance of social
equilibrium against the rebellious and
misled small minority" He said that
the movement deserved the support of
all right minded citizens, who are the
backbone OF the country"
A Russian refugee, major general
in the former Russian army, who has
suffered the loss of everything l pos
sessed through the bolsheyiki," said he
felt in duty bound TO offer his sery-
ices He wrote: 81 am perfectly ia.
miliar with the beginning Of the boil
sheviki, a movement in Russia which
started, as You know, with strikes, up
risings and the curtailment of food.
! know thoroughly the bolshevists of
other countries as well as Russia and
their methods and, since am the guest
OF America and everybody has been so
very kind 60 me. | wish to do all in my
power TO help America
A man. a consulting engineer, 81
years OF age, in fair health and vigor,
wrote: Il am fully in sympathy with
your apparent theory that the way 70
combat outlaw or even 'inlaw' labor
obstructions TO public activities is to
develop a strong and widespread senti-
ment among the masses Of right mind
ed citizents against such labor disturb
ances. Also that the best way 20 de
velop this sentiment among right think
ing people is 10 permit them TO take
part in combating lawlessness and to
aid in the carrying on Of public sctivi-
ties which may be interrupted by ia
Dor disturbances"
A lawyer wrote enrolling his name
"as a member Of your organization,
which has for its purpose the preserva
ton 81 the national life No other
country" he added gives 20 its citi.
zens and others so large an amount Of
freedom and privilege as does Ameri-
ca, vet many of those within our bor-
ders fail 10 appreciate that with liber
tv. also comes responsibility toward
others II il high time that the true
American citizen awakens 10 the con
ditions that threaten and rallies 70 the
support Of law and order
The committee on public welfare is
expected to make a report Of its in
yestigations and progress in the near
future.