Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-04-11

ton.
Wise, after getting a letter from
the Dawes organization asking him
has position on an anti-uuion plank in
the national platform. promptly fred
back an open letter addressed 10
Secretary c. \. Rogers. j.. Of the
Minute Men of the Constitution. This
organization never meets and is not
supposed 10 do anything until ordered
into action by Dawes. 1t is announced
that the organization viii present
antl-union plaHks to both party con-
yenuons and that fact gives to the
Wise letter added Importance. The
letter Is important also because il is
known to express the views of the
Illinois State Federation Of Labor.
Wise Declares He Will Not Accept
Dawes Views.
In his letter to Rogers, Wise said:
Dear Sir: Acknowledging your
letter Of March Is, permit me to say
emphatically and without reservation
that if elected as a delegate to the
Republican national convention
shall make every effort to have in
eluded in the party platform planks
that are in full harmony with the let
ter and spirit OF the Constitution of
the United States, and shall vote for
Hiram w. Johnson for the preiden.
tial nomination. | will not accept the
personal views and platform of Mr..
Charles G. Dawes, chairman of the
board of the banking corporation
known as the Central Trust Company
as substitute for the basic law Of
the land even though Mr.. Dawes in
siSts that in organizing the so-called
Minute Men of the Constitution his
former title Of General in the quar-
termaster's department Of the army
should be used and that no reference
should be made to his we'll known
financial and political Affiliations.
1T has been repeatedly stated by
Mr.. Dawes and his associates that the
Minute Men Of the Constitution is
an organization Of members Of
which are not required to pay dues
and never to hold meetings. The so
called platform or constitution Of
that very peculiar association was
announced by Mr. Dawes himself after
he had formed a so-called company
consisting of officers and employees
of the bank over which he Is presi-
dent and Immediately following his
conference at Miami Florida. as an.
nounced in the public press, with
United States Attorney General
Harry NJ. Daugherty.
Tells How Dawes Obtained
members
"Then Mr.. Dawes proceeded 10 pro-
cure speaking engagements before
various clubs and associates which
had a real existence at which he called
upon all persons who were willing to
support the constitution to arise and
remain standing until counted. Fol
lowing this performance his lieuten-
ants passed out cards which the audi
ence was asked to sign, whereupon
Mr.. Dawes announced that they were
then all members of his organization
which he styles the Minute Men Of
the Constitution
His so-called platform, | repeat,
was made public following his So
iourn with Attorney General Daugh-
erty in Florida and the words EN-
dorsinp the announced position of the
government with reference to the So
called right 10 work and right to quit,
relate to the official position Of the
present government or administration
in regard to labor as officially an
nouneed by Attorney General Daugh-
erty in his statement before Judge
Wilkerson in tire Federal Court OF
this district when he procured the
arbitrary injunction against the rail-
road workers who we're then on strike.
Open Shop" Cover To Hit
Organization.
"The intention Of the administra-
ton to uphold the open shop was
then authoritatiyely stated by Mr.
Daugherty in that court.
ut is notorious that the words
open shop are used as a cover under
which to deny the right Of working
people to organize for the purpose Of
promoting their welfare.
Later Mr.. Dawes amended the
circulars through which he had been
broadcasting his platform by insert
ing a statement that he really was not
promoting an open shop scheme. 1t
seems to me significant that you omit
his statement on this point when you
present his platform or private con
stitution to me for my endorsement.
When he offered his explanatory
statement. however Mr.. Dawes took
occasion to attack in an interruptions
manner several trade union officials
known for their service and loyalty
to the nation and he did this at
time when these same officials were
under attack from some Of the most
notorious communists in the United
States.
an the official publication Of the
Minute Men of the Constitution pre-
yiously referred to in this letter, Mr..
Dawes repeats the statement he had
previously made in the newspapers Of
Chicago, that judges who issue the
Injunction g0mnlaiued Of are acting
in obedienc 10 the constitution and
are unfolding the law. During. his
attacks upon the trade union officials
at a time when those leaders were
under attack by the communistlc or.
ganizations known as the Workers
Party and the Trade Union Edu-
cational League, headed by the Eos
ter-Ruthenberg combination, Mr.
Dawes was evidently very careful TO
avoid nay criticism or reference TO
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