, 1923-02-02
RESPECTFULLY Inquires.

ESLlE NJ. SHAW, former governor of Iowa,
= former secretary of the treasury, a statesman
OF breadth, of American viewpoint, a citizen of
hlgh integrity, a well-wisher of the people to which
group he has, throughout his life belonged, has
grown FESTIVE under the hypocritical, bolshevistic,
demagoglc, selfish, narrow and class doctrine es-
poused by Senator LaFollette, and has handed that
gentleman a questionnaire that at once places the
wisconsin senator over a barrel, and exposes the
ial!aciousness of his argument his total lack of
logic, MS unreliable and even dangerous leadership
or the so-called progressive group in congress
whose activities seem to be more in the interest of
INCREASING than In the peaceful, orderly continuity
of government.
LaFollette, has attracted the attention of .Secre,
tary Shaw, because of his assumption of leader
SNIP An office requiring among other things I'M
s"erVlng patriotism, unequivocal devotion to gen
erai public welfare, fairness in consideration of
an interests, large and small, and absence of spite.
iuiness to interests his narrowness and ignorance
urges MIN to attempt to punish. All of which at
tributes Senator LaFollette lacks as a disquieted
public well understands.
1t is obvious that the secretary regards the SEN
ator as an unsafe but industrious disturber. Among
the questions asked are:
Il write to inquire, as courteously as may, and
as earnestly as possible, as to what specific laws
ana pending legislation you and your group refer
privilege?
"The growers of wheat are specifically permitted
10 combine, and even confederate to advance the
price of their product, while the consumers of
wheat are as expressly denied the right to combine
TO advance the price of flour. Do you object to
H+'ASS ShpNHl Ill lulS instance.
The growers of cotton and of wool are even en-.
couraged to combine to advance the price of their
products, while the consumers are liable to impris.
oIhleht II they combine to advance the prices of tex
tiles. DO you object to this glazing discrimination
as between American producers?
specific legislation expressly permits producers
OF labor to combine, and also to confederate TO nd.
vance wages as well as to limit output, while the
employers of labor are prohibited bv strongest
penal statute| from combining to advance the
products OF labor, or to limit OUTPUT, or to reduce
wages. II you think either the Adamson bill, which
PERMITS the one, or the Sherman antitrust bill that
PFoniolts the other should be modified, please state
In what respect, and to what EXTENT?
me shipping bill that bears your name. has. ms
us principal object, if not its sole purpose, the
grant TO members of seamen unions very extensive
ana 1ar.reaching special privileges. Does this glar.
ing fact appeal to. you as a reason WHY the law
should be now repealed?
"lhe well recognized effect Of the above measure
Is to preclude the possibility of ships floating the
american flag from participation in the carving
trade of the world, and therefore, II in fact driyoS
our seamen from the seas.
DO YOU favor n subsidy for American merchant
sHlPs sufficient to balance the advantage thus
gwen foreign bottoms, in both our export and our
import trade In other words, do you as strenu-
o5uslly object to special privileges when cnioycd
by foreigners as when Americans are fa yOred@
"Nhen the president, or other official of n roi1.
road resigns or voluntarily quits, his place is
illleu; then IT he wishes to come back he has TO
DC content with the best opening available. Last
summer, when the men in the railroad sbOns Uuit
That the public might be served their places were
ihIed, and, later these men wanted their nloceS
back with seniority rights restored, where did Won
and your group stand?
II ask these questions, for l am convinced ,bo+
a great number of thinking Americans. not easily
swept OH their feet, are watching YOU, and those
VINO seem to think it an honor to train under yorr
banner 10 learn II possible whether you are seek.
tent" ~