The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-03-08
PROTEST AGAINST
RAIL AND MINE STRIKE
Letter Red to All Oranges in Country
This Week--Granges Doing Their
Part, Ask That Others Do Theirs.

Washington, ID. c., March s.--Protest
against possible strike of mine work
ers and railroad employees is voiced in
letter to be read this week to every
county and local subordinate branch
of the National Grange, in a move
mcnt initiated by S. J. Lowell, of
Fredonia, n. Y, master of the nation
al grange, to focus public opinion on the
situation.
Eight thousand oranges to which Mr..
Lowell's letter was sent were asked to
ascertain the opinion of their members
and to make public the findings as well
MS any action taken by them.
Il want you to voice your protest, /"
he wrote, against any owners or man
agement of railroads or owners of coal
mines, or workers in either, creating a
condition which will stop the progress
of our recovery from the terrible
scourge of war. We are doing our
part and we demand that both capital
and labor do theirs. Whatever differ
ences may exist between them must be
adjusted without stopping the wheels
of commerce"
Copies of the letter were sent also to
members of the United States Senate.
Mr.. Lowell said, and replies endorsing
his efforts have been received from
many of them, including Senators Me-
Nary, of Oregon; Reyes, of New
Hampshire; Fernald, of Maine; Page,
of Vermont; Moses, of New Hamp,
shire; Willis, of Ohio; and Poindexter,
of Washington.
The text of Mr.. Lowelrs letter to the
grange membership reads:
''The time has now arrived when il
seems pertinent that the grange should
express itself in no uncertain terms in
protest of possible strike of mine
workers and railroad employees.
IF a coal strike takes place as seems
possible in April, the production of the
fuel, upon which the prosperity and
we'll being of millions depend. viii
cease. Although il is claimed that coal
enough to last for a month or more is
now above ground, any stoppage of
production obviously win result in
high prices in the near future. If rail.
road workers strike, the transporta-
ton upon which the food of millions
depends viii stop.
"A railroad strike, now means farm
ers' products remaining unsold and
spelling in his barns. 1t means famine.
suffering and perhaps death in the
cities. 1t means farm supplies piled up
in railroad yards while fields wait for
seeds, fertilizer, and machinery neces-
ssry 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 people
living in the cities, but an obligation
TO help makes it clear that the inter
est of all, and not of class or group
is paramount in this republic. 1t is
none the less pressing because our in
terest in this is secondary and financi-
al instead of primary and vitals
IF coal production stops people will
suffer, and the spectacle Of a compare
lively small group of men and inter
ests seizing the wepon of human mis-
cry and human suffering in order TO
impose their will. and their refusal to
deal fairly with one another. and
make others pay the penalty. is pre-
posterous 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 en-
forcement of such settlement to the
utmost, will prevent any strike; own
ers. workers and the government must
feel the power Of this public opinion.
NO man or set Of them in this
country can succeed against n united
public sentiment.
Il want you to voice your protest
against any owners OF management Of
railroads. OF owners Of coal mines. or
workmen IN either. creating a condition
that win stop the progress Of our re-
covcry from the terrible scourge Of war.
which we have Just passed through
And express il in terms that viii leave
no doubt in any mind that We are in
no way to be used 10 further the inter
est Of either to the advantage Of one
over he other
We are doing our part and It j. not ]
Unfair for rs 90 demand that both
rapitsl and labor do theirs Whatever
differences nav exist between them
must b adjusted without stopping the
wheels Of commerce.