Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 46, Number 335, 12 December 1921 — Page 2

PAGE TWO

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TE LEG RAM, RICHMOND, IND., MONDAY, DEC. 12, 1921.

Unionizing the Public By FREDERICK J. HASKIN

NEW TORK. Dec. 12. Among European Institutions which sould be copied with much profit to this country la the British Middle Classes Union, -which has recently come to exert a powerful political influence in England. Its purpose Is to promote the Interests of the working man as thechamber of commerce promotes those of business. The need for a similar organization over here Is especially evident Just now when the nation Is threatened with a railroad strike entailing widespread distress and chaos. If it comes to pass, the greatest hardship will fall, not upon the rebellious railroad workers nor upon the discontented railroad owners, but upon the complacent general public, which permits itself to be made the victim of industrial mismanagement. It is the general public that will be intolerably Inconvenienced and the general public that will pay double prices for scarce supplies. Hence, regardless of where sympathy lies, it is tip to the general public to protect itself by preventing the strike. But this it is powerless to do. For In this country the general public is unorganized and never lifts its voice. In England it is and it does. When the British citizen feels that he is bains imposed upon he does not remain passive and silent. He sets forth to a meeting of the Middle Classes union, where he discusses the matter with great dignity and then writes to his M. P.

"Sir," he reminds that gentleman,

said.

"Call in your foreman," he

"and let me show him this." ' The foreman came and saw and was conquered. After a short caucus with the rest of his workmen, he announced that there would be no strike. "This was not an expression of antagonism against the miner's or the men in the power works," , declares the union's president. "It was merely an expression of self-preservation on the part of the community. "The supply of food, milk and coal was threatened when the miners' strike broke out. It seemed as though the people would have to starve for want of men to run the trains and ship the foodstuffs. We recruited hundreds of men to assist the government to provide coal and food to the cities and outlying districts: we provided constables to guard the railway stations; we supplied workers to run the milk trains. The transportation tangle lasted longer than" we anticipated. To relive those who had gone on duty lmediately the strike was called, a summons was sent out for an additional force. By the end of the day 2,000 men had answered it. Again I say it sounds like strikebreaking, but it isn't. Those men were interested in their own families, their own homes. All of them wero engaged in their individual labors when the call went out. They left those to insure the welfare of the community, the middle classes, the consumers, call it anything you will. When the regular transportation workers came back to their jobs, these

filar strength in so short a period of

organization." - The only organization in this country which corresponds in any yay way with the British Middle Classes Union is the League of Women Voters. It is using practically the same tactics to. enforce legislation favorable to women. Last year, the American middle classes gave evidence of their ability to form an organized protest when they paraded in overalls in New York. But the flame of their rebellion soon died. And this is od because the paraders fully demonstrated their power. The price of wearing apparel came down.

Not Anti-Labor. Such calls to duty are rare, however, because the middle classes are not vitally affected by the majority ol strikes and can afford to ignore them. Most of their energy t expended on agitation for lower prices, lower rateu, lower taxes! The union's claim much credit for having brought about a reccent reduction in the cost of living in ngiand, and in checking lavish expenditures on the part of the government. One thing it particularly fought is the well-established national custom of presenting free railroad passes to members of parliament. "A program of economy with fair dealing for those who make up the backbone of the nation ,that is what the Middle Classes Union stands for," according to its chief executive. "Our membership is still comparatively small we only have 250,000 men and women enrolled in some SOU branches in England and Scotland but this membership is growing all the time. I will veniure to say that no trade union can show a record of sim-

Everyday Ad-Ventures

l voted for you at the last election j men returned t0 theirs.

ana neipea 10 give you your seat. ic parliament. It is now time that you were showing your appreciation. We who put you where you are expect you to stand up on the floor of the house like a man and prove that jour constitutent3 are unable to pay increased income taxes, tram rates, telephoui rates, telegraph rates, postal rates, education rates, etc. Such increases we consider to be intolerable. Will you kindly give the matter your immediate attention? (Signed) So-and-So, Member of the Middle Classes Union' Parliament Takes Notice The M. P.'s eye is caught and held by that signature. He is well acouainted with the Middle Classes Union. He remembers that out of three hundred candidates put up by them at the polls at the last election, almost a hundred won out. In view of the union's extreme youth (it is only a little over two years old) that is a record sufficient to make any M. P. mind his P's and Q's. The great strength of the union is its non-political character. It refuses to affiliate itself with any political patty, but. throws its votes to indi viduals who have pledged to it the'r support. At one time it hurls its

whole force against organized labor, i

and the next time it is equally ferocious toward organized capital. In describing the activities of the union, Lord Uekwith. its president, says:

"The Union of the Middle Classes i takes no sides in any industrial quar-1 id. Its members are free to come to i anv conclusion thev chose, but the!

organization as a body is interested in thp welfare of the community as a whole. By welfare we mean proper distribution of food, heat, light and clothing. When these things are threatened, then the members act at once to safeguard themselves." As an illustration of how it works, the president relates how at Sheffield

the workers in Ihe power house which ! :-upplifd the city with light, threat- j ened to strike in sympathy with the i miners. News of the proposed wallc-j out was brought to the Sheffield branch of the Middle Classes Union f. few hours before it was scheduled j to occur. The secretary of the town' immediately huried forth and c;ui-; vasscd the town for volunteers who would take the place of the strikers, j He succeeded in securing 200 recruits,! including clerks, shop-keepers, pro-; lessional mn and workers of all kinds, and finally a large contingent; irom the Sheffield golf links. ! With the Ion? list of volunteers in j li.ind, the secretary then rushed to the :

power house and soother its irate man-1 i aser. I V.

When you're looking down your Christmas list and you come across an old familiar name that always appears every year namely, "Father" And you get to thinking over other days and other Christmases when you were younger, and you realize that, he's just about the best old scout in the world, even though all the family sort of takes him for granted And everybody knows that he'll get behind his check-book for some fine presents, but when it comes to things for him most any old sort of standard gift always seems to have done But you make up your mind that this year he's going to have regular Christmas presents from you and all the others because you've discovered a lot of things that will warm the cockles of his heart and let him know how much you all think of him And they're all described in the Christmas Gift Suggestions columns of the Palladium's classified section and all you have to do is make a quick trip to the stores that carry just the things you want and so You're Christmas Shopping's All Over 'Till Next Year!

Furnishings He'll Like For practical, useful gifts we pride ourselves on our present selection. Here we have the kind of furnishings any man would select for himself if he were to choose his own gifts. No one can make a mistake in buying because quality is right and so are prices. We suggest Holeproof Hose, Manhattan Shirts, Fashion Park Suit or Overcoat, Traveling Set, Leather Collar Bag, Muffler, Suspenders, Belt, Ties, Pajamas, Underwear,. Sweater, Bath Robe, Silk Lounging Robe, Smoking Jackets, etc. Model Clothing Company W. E. JAMESON, Prop. 709-711 Main St.

' Hagerstown, Ind. HAGERSTOWN, Ind. R.ev. B. A. Hartley went to Muncie Wednesday.. Mrs. Anthony Hower, Mrs. Joe Teetor and Mrs. Albert Hindman were guests Monday and Tuesday of Mrs. Joe Linn at Connersville. . .Mrs. Laura Gebhart went to Franklin, Ohio, Tuesday The third number of the lyceum course, under the auspices of the high school, will be held Tuesday night at the I. O. O. F. hall Mrs. Porter Thornburgh, formerly of this place, was operated on at the hospital at Newcastle Saturday Mrs. Rozilla Mills, who has been here several weeks at the home of her sister, Mr3.

Sarah Bell, went to Dayton, Ohio, Wednesday, to visit her son, J. B. Mills and family Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon Rlnehart and mother, Mrs. Phoebe Rinehart, returned Monday from Huntington, where they spent a few days. Betty Holden, little niece of Attorney and Mrs. B. F. Mason, returned to Newcastle Wednesday, after spending several weeks here. She was accompanied by Mrs. Mason The Masonic lodge will hold the annual election of officers Wednesday evening. Representative James Knapp spoke before the high ecbool at Cambridge City Wednesday forenoon.... The Christian Sunday school has secured the services of Miss Billy Miller,

of the Indiana college of Music and at her home south of town with lung

Fine Arts, of Indianapolis, to assist In putting on a musical and literary entertainment Monday evening, Dec. 19 Wilfred Knapp and George Wogoman attended the regular meeting of the Radio club at Richmon(I, Wednesday evening Mrs. David Rlnehart has been sick several weeks

fever and dropsy. Sue 13 improving.

Calumet Baking Powder, lb., 30

Phone 1587 CLOVER LEAF GROCERY

603 Main

This is a

YEAR

Use your own good Judgment when you buy your car. We are equipped to give you complete Studebaker service. General repairing on all make cars. Work guaranteed. Brower Auto Sales Co.

Studebaker 21-23 S. 7th St.

Dealers Phone 6019

Artistic Lamps p

A Gift

op wi

ristmas

th the Spirit

I rue

Set aside on our main floor is a section just filled to overflowing with appropriate Christmas gifts that will bring joy to the recipient on Christmas day and be a

Here are gifts that combine real quality with prices so low that we can truthfully say that the Christmas spirit

ot Uood Will toward Men surely permeates this

reminder for years afterward of your thoughtfulness department. Convenient credit terms may be ar

and good taste.

ranged in any purchase.

Cabinets

e win n

Martha Washington and other beautiful designs in walnut or mahogany. Splendid values at from

$19.00 to $33.00

In polychrome and Mahogany finish with silk or parchment shades, an appropriate gift, at

$4.75, $6.50, $7.75 and upward

Book Racks Several different and very artistic styles and finishes to select from. Prices range from $7.50 to $16.00

Ash Trays

You will find a splendid variety of Ash Trays here In many different designs and finishes. Wonderful values at from

$1.25 to $5.50

Book Ends Here is a very appropriate and inexpensive gift. We have them at prices ranging from

m $4.75 to $6.75

Upward

Lamps of Rare Beauty AH the very newest designs and finishes are here and the prices range from $9.90 to $49.00

I wi ll III i WW 1 1 km ' ! www

Parchment Lamps The very newest and most, artistic designs in shades and bases. Prices range from $8.75 to $15.75

,onso

leTabl

Very decorative for small reception room or living room. Many different styles to select from at prices ranging from

$17.75 to $33.00

Windsor Ch

Also Windsor Rockers. A number of beautiful designs to select from at prices

starting as low as $22.00

End Tables Davenport end tables are both beautiful and practical. We have them in mahogany or walnut finishes at from $8.95 to $24.00

Smoking Stands Right now we are featuring a number of special values in smoking stands in your choice of several different finishes. For example $8.90, $9.75, $13.50, $19.90, $27.00 up

Foot Stools Here is another gift that will add comfort to the home. We are featuring special values at from $3.75 to $7.50

Tea Cart We are showing a remarkably attrac t i v e line of tea carts at this time. And now, in their handsome walnut and mahogany finish, so very low; priced. $19.75

Cedar

Chests

How can you hit on anything more appropriate for wife or daughter than a beautiful, fragrant, aromatic red cedar chest? Our chests are marvelous values and very low priced.

$14.40

airs m

920-926 Main St.