The Mena weekly star., 1922-03-09
UNIONS OPPOSING
 LOAN TO M. & N. 4.
Are Making Vigorous Fight Against Federal Aid for Railroad-Many Protests Received--I. c. c. Is
 Deluged With Letters.
From the Arkansas Gazette.

Washington, D. C., March 4.-While stockholders and officials of the Mis- souri and North Arkansas Railroad Company are making every effort to bring about conditions that will war rant them reopening the road, union officials and others still are waging a war to bar success.
 This is evidenced by scores of let ters and telegrams received every few days by members of the Interstate Commerce Commission protesting against the granting of a loan of $3 500 ,000 to the railroad, and urging that the line be allowed to go on the auction block.
 The most insistent writer is J. T. Venable, secretary of the o. R. C., No. 425, whose address is given as Box 45, Harrison, Ark. A hal dozen letters and telegrams within two weeks is the record established by Venable, while several have been received from Till man lines, general chairman system federation No. 27, and from c. D. Ali son of the Harrison National Farm Loan Association.
 The file of the commission also con- tains telegrams of protest from B. M. Jewell, president Railway Employ ment Department, and from Stone, Carter, Sheppard and Lee, represen- tatives of the four big brotherhoods.
 Most of the letters from Venable and lines declare that the writers know other interests" that are ready to. buy the road, make extensions to Tulsa, Okla, and Memphis, Tenn, and who could control sufficient tonnage to make it a going concern. No names are mentioned, however, and no reas- ons given why the would-be purchas- CTS have refrained from buying.
 Threatens Defeat at Polls"
 Members of the Interstate Com meree Commission, appointed by the president, will be defeated at the polls" according to the threat made by c. D. Allison, secretary and treas urer of the Harrison National Farm Loan Association.
 "Can your commission retain your reputation for honor and integrity if you loan this bunch of petty high f. nanciers $3,500,000 of the peoples money?" Allison asked.
 q say no; and if you do, hope un- ion labor makes a campaign issue of it and skins you at the polls. We farmers are after you, and if we can get union labor to "jine" we will give you a jolt such as David gave Goliath"
 Turnout the letters from Venable the question is asked why the gov ernment should loan $3,500,000 to a railroad which has been ordered sold for $3,000,000.
 "We do not believe the Interstate Commerce Commission can afford to loan out government funds to de- funct railroad in order that that road might carry on a war against labor," he said in one letter.
 Says Loan Insufficient.
 In several different letter Venable argued that the loan asked by the road would not be sufficient to take up it's receivers certificates, pay of other indebtedness and leave enough re- maining to resume operations.
 "They would not even have enough to buy ties" he said, land they need at least 500,00O ties, as well as new rails, new bridge materials and new machinery in the shops"
 Should the road be permitted to nCtlt Vtitl lAibNiCSto VIII PhA anu operate" said Venable, land why should the government prevent the people along the line from being freed from the yoke of the present interests"
 President Jewell, in his telegram to the commission, protested against the loaning of the peoples money to railroad which has set at defiance the transportation act of 1920, and the orders of the United States Railroad Labor Board, particularly it's decis- ion 90.
 The telegram from Stone, Carter, Shepherd and Lee said: "We desire to enter a vigorous protest against such loan being made until the Interstate Commerce Commission has conducted an investigation and ascertained whether the carrier has disbursed it's funds properly and in legitimate manner during the last year"