The sun., 1916-09-25
All checks. money orders. &C. to be
made payable to TVS suS.
THE QUESTION OF TO-DAY.

TO THE EDITOR or TIE SrS--Sr:
Shall the unions or the people rule?
This Is n vital issue not merely in
New York city but In the nation. For
Tho first time in our history II is now
put %squarcly before the voters OF the
country.
II Is not q question OF. being For
ersAgainst the institution of organized
LABOR. but II Is purely n question Of
who shall rule this great republic.
Here In New York We have the ab.
sprd situation OF a handful Of citizens
representing the proposed wishes Of
perhaps less than one-half Of ] per
cent. OF the population undertaking II
sympathetic" strike to bring to n
standstill the activities In the daily life
Of the other 9?.9 per cent.-about
100000 people. And these people are
to suffer because a traction company
stands by It's 10000 or 10000 en-
p!oyees who are satisfied with their
employment and who refuse TO break
their contracts and to abandon their
" union to join the organization
ordering the strike.
To win this point. II the strike lead
ers havt their way. the vast popula-
ton OF the city Is deprived OF its right
TO work. to have light. heat and food,
n to enjoy the guaranteed privileges
OF citizenship. Tho suffering and loss
u life among the poor and sick and
among the victims Of riots and vio-
lence which these leaders encourage
10 OF no concern to them. No law can
reach the authors OF such n calamity.
In u weakness we have actually
made some laws to exempt them
from punishment.
This vital Issue Is national. Shall
union leaders control and dominate
our government and direct lawful au.
thority? Hughes says NO: Wilson.
by his acts. says YES" The voter
now has n chance to decide who is
right.
There are many important issues.
nut the average man would like 10
have these questions rightly and per-
manently answered.:
Shall the power OF the President
and Congress be used TO help strikers
TO win their contests with their en-
pioyers. as has recently been done?
Shall our 3 6 1000. 900 workers ono.
including the professions) continue 10
submit without protest TO the injus-
tic 30 often committed in the name
OF American labor by the az per cent.
OF their number who are unionizcd?
Shall this vast number Of workers
remain mute and Indifferent In the
a Of the unprecedented indignity
and humiliation which IL per cent. Of
their number Uhe railway brother
hUods) have forced upon the Presi-
dent and Congress?
Shall the leaders Of the $500. 900
union workers In our country be per-
mitted to continue to fasten in the
minds OF public men and lawmakers
the absurd fiction that they can con-
troll the votes Of the 1i.255.O00 Ameri-
can citizens. the so-called ~"tolling
masses" who are engaged In our
mining. manufacturing, mechanical
and transportation Industries?
Shall the $1,000. 900 men OF voting
q In the United States be controlled
and their legislation dictated by the
labor leaders representing but 3.00O.-
700, or Z per cent. of their number?
IL 1t not time that the ninety-cight
submerged millions should be heard on
the question Of their own punishment
in. labor disputes?
10 1t not time for every American
10 shake or the absurd fear of being
cIa8ed as an enemy OF labor because
he opposes the unjust acts and the
violence committed in the name OF
labor?
Has not Mr.. Wilson already an
swered the question. Shall the unions
or, the people rule?"
Was It not the fear Of the ~so-called
labor vote" that frightened Democ-
racy into exempting In the income tax
o large part Of our people from pay
Ing their share OF the cost OF govern
ment and increasing the share Of the
rest OF our people to make good the
deficit? Is this Equality before the
law? Is 1t not creating such a priv
!leged class by statute?
With the labor vote" terror upon
him he and his party have made other
similar s~urrenders to political eXpe-
diency.
IT a business organization continues
o perform an act In the restraint OF
trade It must pay the penalty Of the
law, but labor unions under the Will
son surrender may commit the same
offence and escape the penalty. lie
las also exempted them so far rs he
could from punishment for violating
court injunctions. This was u special
concession to strikers.
How many Of the submerged 8 s ,0O0,-
600 citizens believe in this class legis.
lation?
B And now Mr.. Wilson has established
the precedent that the power OF Presi.
dent and Congress may be used tc
compel employers to accede to the de.
mands OF a mere fraction Of the domi.
nant 2 per cent.
The Justice OF the strikers demands
Is one thing; the surrender OF the
power OF the Government to strike
leaders Is another thing. and vital.
What would Mr.. Wilson have done
II a foreign force had appeared and
threatened 10 paralyze our commerce
and starvc u people II they did no,
nay a cash tribute OF $50. 600, 900 an.
nually? Would he have sounded tho
usual surrender and retreat? Would
he have exclaimed: america has mill.
ions for tribute. but not "a cen for de,
fence Of her dignity and honor?
Would he have rushed 10 C,onprcs,