The Connecticut labor press., 1920-08-21
RAILROAD UNIONS ISSUE RINGING
 POLITICAL CALL
On Threshold of Momentous Na- tional Campaign Involving
 Peoples Liberty.
NO MAN MUST FAIL
Every Voters Duty Stands Plainly Before Him, Say 16
 Standard Organizations.

The following call was sent out to the 16 recognized standard railroad or ganizations by Warren s. Stone, grand chief of the Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers:
 "Sirs and Brothers:
 ''We. are nthe threshold of mo- nentous national campaign in which questions of vital interest to the people if indeed they do not involve the very life of the Republic itself be de- cided. This campaign is. filled with splendid opportunities for those of us who believe III government of the peo- pie, by the people, for the people, in- stead of government of the wealthy few, by the wealthy few, for the wealthy few. It is filled with the gravest peril for us and for our children and if we fail to give the most earnest thought to the issues and candidates involved. At such time, no man who cherish: es American institutions can afford te be influenced in his political activities by petty, selfish motives. He must ac | for the common veal and for tha alone
 "The forces of reaction are now il control of both houses of Congress an6 many other departments of govern ment. With amazing boldness < they have granted special privileges to pri. vate interests and at the same time they i, have deprived citizens of rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constit1- tion
 t"The passage of the Cummins-EseI bill furnishes striking proof of this dis position of our national lawmakers to depart from. American standards. Ig- noring the protests of farmers shippers | (~ l., granted colossal subsidies to the own CTS of the railroads, has sought to vali- date billions of dollars worth of water ed stock and has guaranteed dividends on real and fictitious Investments At the same time it has displayed deter imitation to deprive the railroad work CTS of the benefits of collective bargain ing and to make labor, i'll very truth, a mere commodity
 Fortunately the fathers of our coun- try foresaw these times and in their wisdom provided the weapons with which free men and women may effec- lively safeguard the Republic. Special privilege has demonstrated its strength in Congress.
 "The producers of America-farm- CTS, 1aborers, men and women engaged in useful employrnent-rnu display their strength at the ballot box, in pri- mary and generabelections.
 Special privilege disregards party lines in bestowing its favors. The pro- ducers of our country must likewise disregard party ties when they go to the polls. Special privilege has its friends and retainers in both of the old parties. There is no difference between spe- cial-priVilege reactionary republican and specia1-privi1ege reactionary democrat.
 "If the invisible government con- trolled by special privilege is to be de- stroyed, root and branch, and the con- trol of our republic restored to the people, every issue must be weighed and every candidate carefully judged. Can didates must stand or fall on their records. Those whose records show fidelity to the people should be sup ported without regard to party affilia- tions, and those who have been un- faithful should be defeated"