Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-31
To Members Of the House.
(WashingtOn Post)

SGukAlltSSt' IL has lOuS SSNA
boast that you. more directly than
the Senate, represent the people. that
you are in closer touch with them,
know better their feelings and wants.
and are more ready to respond to the
peoples will.
Whatever may have been the case
in the past, it Is today the Senate
that stands firmly and courageously
for the rights of all the people as
against the unjust demands of q
class. In your railroad bill you have
sacrificed the peoples rights in favor
Of a selfish and threatening minority,
and you have done it because, no
doubt, you believed it would avoid a
labor war. You have sought, by
lodging the issue and by surrender
ing the peoples rights. to evade tho
unpleasant duty of voting against
the demands Of this selfish minority.
ity mark you for defeat. and you
hope that the people will demand less
of you than is demanded by this COM
pact and determined minority.
While Americans have shown that
they are unalterably opposed to hav-
ing an overseas supergOvernment
supplant this nation, and that they
are equally opposed to turning over
this nation to red anarchy, the fac.
remains that a would-be supergov-
eminent has worked itself into power
here at home, and is now intimidat-
ing the House of Representatives.
The Adamson act was nothing but a
surrender by the President and Con-
gress to minority of the people. and
this minority now demands further
concessions in its own favor and
against the interest of the people.
Until recently the people have been
too much absorbed in their own af-
fairs and in the progress Of peace
making to pay strict attention to the
character of legislation enacted by
their representatives in Washington.
They have not supervised their repre-
sentatives as they should have done.
The coal strike. which began to freeze
them. and the threatened railroad
strike caused the people to turn their
attention to the demands of organ
lied classes. led In some instances BY
american bolshevist agitators and
professed anarchists. The people took
note that the best and most patriotic
leaders of these organizations were
thrust to the rear, while red leaders
stepped forward with thinly dis
guised threats of revolution.
The danger of a universal railroad
strike, which was actually threat
ened. aroused the country and the
Senate. This is a state Of anarchy
that will never be permitted. The
people will not submit to such an
atrocious violation of their rights.
The railroads are Indispensable
servants Of the people, without which
the people cannot exist. No set of
men can have 1t in their power to
paralyze this service with impunity.
II they should attempt it they would
De ground to death under the heel of
an enraged and aroused nation. The
people do not wish to be aroused to
fury by the ,ignoranO and extortion-
ate demands of unpatriotic men who
nave Wormed their way into the lead
ersnip OF some labor Organizations.
The people wish to avoid a clash be.
tween large bodies of fanatics and
the nation itself. Therefore. they
expect Congress to legislate in such
manner as will put this misguided
minority on notice that 1t is pursu-
ing the wrong road: that it viii NOT
De permitted to disrupt the transpor-
tation system Of the United States.
tnat II 1t yields to the advice of anti; :
American leaders 1t will do so at ito
peril. 40
Now. gentlemen, the Senate has
courageously given this notice. 1t is
warning. nothing more. 1t i'm
prisons no man, and takes from M
man any Of his rights as a citizen.
II merely safeguards the people. Are
you In favor of that action. or against
lie? "e "'''s'
Gentlemen Of the House. the bill,
you passed is not acceptable to the
people and not worthy of your 70
sponslbilities as representatives Of
the people. You know you have not
risen to your duty. Your bill reads
as though it had been drafted by n
minority for the purpose CT clinchinr
Its Unfair advantage over the whole
people. Have you considered care.
1ully just where your duty and inter-
est lie? Do you think the Afherica n
people can be fooled by such legisla :
ton? Do you suppose that each
| congressional district will fail to loo,,
into the record Of its representative
when this all-important question be.
comes acute?
10 not be 80 impressed by the in
nuence and votes Of organized class
combinations as to lose sight of that
greater and more powerful oreaniza :
ton. the American people! The
showdown is at hand. gentlemen.
The United States is either to con-
tinue under the control of the Ameri-
can people Or 1t is to pass to other
hands. On which side do you stand.
II you think the people do NOT
know and appreciate courage ana
faithful service. how do you account
Tor the popularity of Gov. Coolidge Of
Massachusetts and Gov. Cornwell Of
West Virginia? Look into their rec
ords. President Taft vetoed as per-
nicious class legislation the proyiso
exempting labor unions and farmers
from penalties visited upon all the
rest OF US for certain offenses. Did
he lose standing before the American
people on that account? That veto
stands as q pillar Of Americanisn,
and all true Americans. including the
bulk OF the labor unions and the