The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-01-14

we are the men of labor and in a
fight we DO not know how to turn
the other cheek SO the World War
Veterans have made labor's fight
their own, and we want labor to
make our fight their own.
Let US take a few specific cases
If you want to know the power of
organized World War Veterans, turn
to Fort Dodge, Iowa. Last spring,
Fort Dodge was the storm center Of
Iowa. 1t was the home of the
Labor party in Iowa. The men of
the Quaker oats, the potteries, the
gypsum plants and the machine
shops were facing annihilation by
reason of the campaign for the open
shop. To help break the spirit of
the men, the only other large eX-
service mems organization was un-
officially, and sometimes officially,
turned loose upon them; their meet
ings were harassed, their organizers
intimidated, credit shut down.. fami-
lies forcibly elected by undue proc
ess of law from leased houses; and
all the yellow tricks of greed, with
which you have often come in con-
tact, were used against them. Then,
two organizers for the Vets hap
pened on the scene. We got couple
many of the rank and file have
| thrown in their tens and twenties.
Now we are talking to labor, and
we are talking turkey. Give US, you
100000 labor men of America,
put 100000 into our hands or at
our disposal and we will organize
the ex-doughboys of America into
combat organization that will save
America from economic, industrial,
financial and political anarchy into
which you know, as well as we do,
that she is drifting. You men of
New York back us for $1,000 and we
will save your lives. You men of
the northeastern states put $25, 600
at our disposal and the gents of the
American Woolen will spend few
winters in the Isle of Pines. You
lads down there in West Virginia,
with the soldiers at your throats,
why do you not call in the men OF
the Vets who are experts at this
soldier business, and we will take
those soldiers away from your
throats. You men at Akron who,
we have heard, have left that burg
| by the ten-thousands, why did you
not let us turn Akron into a Fort
| Dodge? And you men all over this
| fair land of ours, who ask nothing
more from industry than square
deal for yourselves and families,
wake up, give your executive secre-
tary orders to call in the Vets; put
some of your money where it will
produce good results quickly. Pay
our organizers enough to cover room
rent, meal tickets, railroad fare and
decent clothes and we will get them
on the job for you.
| Only, if organized labor wants the
job done, that same organized labor
will have to kick through with the
dough. We have the men and the
talent, the goods and the quits, and
we know the game. We have not
yet exhausted our fighting resources,
and we propose to continue the bat
! tie whether you line up with us
or not but we are calling for re-
endorsements from a scource from
which we have a right to expect
them.
We are not fighting the U. S.
government. We are fighting those
anarchists in and out of office who
abuse and misuse official preroga-
tives.
Nor are we radicals, except in one
respect: That this damnable intim-
idation. this Wholesale destruction
of, and disregard for our funda-
mental rights of citizenship must
stop.
Whip your central body into line
and shoot us $3.50 bucks. Arrange
for our organizers, and enjoy life
again.
Fraternally yours,
WORLD WAR VETERANS.