The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
STEAGALL WRITES TO
 HIS CONSTITUENTS

Washington, February Especial )-Tn l the very moment when an effort is being made to produce a candidate against his reelection to Congress, Representative Steagan of the Third Alabama departs from the usual method of politicians and political dodgers, by stating without teouivocation his position on vitally con- troversial propositions. His statement is contained in a letter addressed to each of his constituents.
 Mr, Steagall proceeds against central ization of government in Washington, and universal military training. He declares for stricter immigration laws, and refers to the fact that he has introduced a measure preventing all immigration until after 1880. He states that the time has come when all men must submit their disputes to constituted authority In this
 declaration he takes direct issue with
 radical labor unionists that they have an
 inherent right to strike whenever they please.
 In the Steagall letter these direct state ImentS apepar:
 T regard immigration, railroad legisla- tion and our permanent military policy as the most important subjects demand ing consideration. Many of the millions or undesirable immigrants who have been allowed to enter the country are wholly
 unappreciative of our system of govern ment. Their presence constitutes a con stant menace I have voted at every op- portunity to restrict immigration, and | have recently introduced a bill to sus- pend immigration until 1890
 .'I am opposed to government ownership Of railroads. The more closely I observe conditions the more alarmed I am at the
 tenoency to centralize power in the ged-
 eral government. Our experiment in op-
 erating the roads has cost fully s1, 900. 900. .
 600, and the end is not yet. Government
 ownership would place upon the pay rolls
 of the government about 2000,000 men,
 To pay for the roads would cost abc;r
 s20. GOO OO0.000. I voted in 1918 against con-
 tiuuing the appropriation for the opera
 tion of the roads without setting a time
 or declaring a purpose to restore them
 to the owners, and stated fo the House
 my opposition to government ownership
 Subsequent events have only strengthened
 my views. But when the recent measure
 to restore the roads was before the House I found myslf unable to support it. As declared in a speech in the House. the bill
 did not in true sense terminate govern ment operation, but involved the govern
 filcHt III IurlHeT ODllSdtlOnS Wnlcnr 1 thought unwise and unfair. Another ob-
 jection which I set forth was that the
 bill embodied no effective provision for the settlement of disputes between the owners and employees. I think the time has come when all men should be required to submit their controversies to consti- tuted authorities of law. We cannot af- fCrd to tie up the commerce of the coun- try. stop the transportation of farm prcd- 1,cf nd n4I rfo <xg T bring starvation and distress in the great centers of population, Shecause of fail use to establish proper tribunals to dis pense justice.
 "A systematic effort is on foot to fasten upon the country vast standing army and to establish at a cost of about s1 ,OOo- 000.000 year a system of compulsory mill itary training in time of peace. I har fought this move from it's incpiency. Our boys cannot be spared from home and school and farm and we must not take the negro from peaceful pursuits to teach