New Britain herald., 1922-03-06
REQUESTS PROTEST
 ON PROPOSED STRIKE
Eight Thousand Oranges Will Be
 Asked to File Opinions

Washington March 6.-Protest against possible strike of mine workers and railroad employees Is voiced In letter to be read this week
 to every county and local subordin- ate branch Of the National Grange,
 in movement initiated by S. J.
 Lowell, of Fredonia, N. Y.. master of the National Grange to focus public opinion on the situation. Eight thousand granges to which Mir, Lowell's letter was sent were ask ed to ascertain the opinion of their members and to make public the find ings as well as any action taken by them.
 T want you to voice your protest" he wrote, against any owners or management of railroads or owners of coal mines or workers in either ere ating condition which will stop the
 progress of our recovery from the ter rible scourge Of war. We are doing our part and we demand that both capital and labor do theirs. What ever differences may exist between them must be adjusted without stop ping the wheels of commerce" Copies of the letter were sent also
 to members Of the United States sen- ate, MT. Lowell said and replies en- dorsing his efforts have been receiv- ed from many of them, including
 Senators McNary. of Oregon; Reyes,
 of New Hampshire: Fernald of Maine; Page, of Vermont; Moses, of New Hampshire; Willis Of Ohio; and
 Poindexter, of Washington.
 The text of MT. Lowell's letter to the Grange membership reads: "The time has now arrived when it seems pertinent that the Grange should express itself in no uncertain
 terms in protest of a possible strike of mine workers and railroad em- ployees.
 If a coal strike takes place as
 seems possible in April, the produc- tion of the fuel, upon which the prosperity and well-being of millions depend, will cease. Although it is claimed that coal enough to last for month or more is now above ground
 any stoppage of production obviously will result in high prices in the near
 future. If railroad workers strike, the
 the transportation upon which the IOCu Ol HllLIlOIiS ucpcHu VIII sup. "A railroad strike, now means
 farmers products remaining unsold and spelling in his barns. And that may mean famine, suffering and per haps death in the cities. In means farm supplies piled up in railroad yards while fields wait for seeds, fertilizer and machinery necessary to make them productive.
 "A strike in April at planting time wrecks years crop production plans.
 "A coal strike comes less directly
 home to our people than to the peo- pie living in the cities, but an obli-
 gation to help makes 1t clear that the
 interest of all, and not of a class or
 group is paramount in this republic. It is none the less pressing because our interest in this is secondary and financial, instead of primary and vital.
 'If coal production stops people will suffer and the spectacle of a comparatively small group of men and interests seizing the weapon of human misery and human suffering in order to impose their will. and their refusal to deal fairly with one another and make others pay the pen alty, is preposterous in this nation and time.
 'The decision of every member of
 the grange to do his part in building | up an overwhelming public opinion for fair and just settlement and the enforcement of such settlement to the utmost, will prevent any strike Owners, workers and the government must feel the power of this public |opinion.
 No man or set of them in this country can succeed against united | public sentiment.
 T want you to voice your protest Iagainst any owners or management of railroads, or owners of coal mines or workmen in either creating a con dition that will stop the progress of our recovery from the terrible scourge of war, which we have just passed | I through And express it in terms that will leave no doubt in any mind that we are in no way to be used to fur ther the interest of either to the ad
 vantage of one over the other
 We are doing our part and it is not unfair for us to demand that both capital and labor do theirs. What ever differences may exist between them must be adjusted without stop
 ping the wheels of commerce.
 "I am expecting you, brothers and | sisters, to take active interest in help
 ing to promote the public sentiment that will bring this about. Whenever
 possible make every effort to have the opinion of your grange reported in the newspapers of your county so that this protest against an impend-