I wish to express my strong support for Railroad Workers United. The history of democracy in the United States has always been shaped by the power of workers. Bosses and politicians will forever ignore the needs of working people unless we organize against them. The RWU is part of that long American of tradition resisting illegitimate power. In 1857, abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglas reminded us that if there is no struggle there is no progress. “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” he said. “It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them…The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” After the Civil War, workers created the Knights of Labor because the “aggression of aggregated wealth,” led to the “pauperization and hopeless segregation of the toiling masses.” They refused to endure oppression. In 1892 farmers and workers created the Populist, or People’s Party because, “The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes for a few, unprecedented in the history of mankind; and the possessors of those, in turn, despise the republic and endanger liberty. From the same prolific womb of governmental injustice we breed the two great classes - tramps and millionaires.”  As a result of their organizing, the bosses and millionaires were forced to enact the graduated income tax, the secret ballot, the direct election of Senators and the eight-hour-day. In 1905 the Industrial Workers of the World was formed in Chicago because, “The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. Between these two classes a struggle must go on until all the toilers come together on the political, as well as on the industrial field, and take and hold that which they produce by their labor through an economic organization of the working class, without affiliation with any political party.” Because of labor unrest during the Great Depression, the bosses and politicians were finally forced to legalize unions and collective bargaining. Carry on this great tradition! Join and support the RWU! In your hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold, because the Union makes you strong. Solidarity Forever! Mike Konopacki, Labor Cartoonist; St. Augustine, FL