White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-08

food and money. If he is starving he
has a right to food. Ii his children
are sick he has a right to have the
services of a physician and nurse and
may need the money TO obtain their
services. but you will not justify the
method or believe that such proceed
ure does not imperil the rights OF
property and life. So Congress has
been held up. The President has
pointed a pistol at its head and
has said that it must pass such a
measure within the next few hours.
Party organization, appointments TO
office, political preferment bring
great pressure to bear. But our re-
public is based upon the co-ordina-
ton and independence of three de-
partments-the executive. Legislative
and judicial. And in proportion as
the executive trespasses upon another
department, no matter how worthy
the motive, to that extent Il govern
ment becomes a monarchy.
The railroad brotherhoods pointed
a pistol at the head of Congress and
said, You will pass this bill within
the next few hours or the strike will
be called, no matter about the re-
SUITS And no matter how worthy
their demands, this is moi law. Again
the dread of business panic added its
pressure. Commercial stagnation,
privation, hunger. starvation are pot
ent things. | will not mention the
selfish item-the desire for re-elec-
ton. But Congress. held up in this
fashion, has displayed the spirit OF
.cowardice that spells the doom of
democracy. Democracy is still on
trial. Ii is genuine only as all men
are masters and all men are servants.
If one man or small group of men
or large group of men can hold des-
potic reign over the nation, We have
forfeited birthright.
The spirit of genuine democracy
our fathers to exclaim, mot
one cent for tribute; caused Patrick
Henry to exelaim. though the stress
was greater than now. Give me
or give me death"
These sons who now hold seats in
Congress are unworthy of such an
cestry. 1t is their business to investi-
gate, to hear arguments, TO debate
and deliberate. without the influence
of threat or cajolery. pass such meas
ures as in their judgment the vel
fare of the country demands. Con-
gress Is the servant of no faction.
but of the entire nation. 1t may be
that the present measure should be
a law. 1t ought to come in decent.
respectable fashion and not by such
procedure. Such pro-
strikes at the vitals of our
democracy. The second serious phase
o. the present situation is the surren-
der of the principle of arbitration.
As | see it. the President has taken
a most unfortunate position in per-
hitting himself to become a partisan
and in yielding this principle, fund
amental in such a government as
ours. ! do not bring this word Of
criticism with gladness. Most of
You know my admiration for the
President. | have rejoieed al many
of the things he has accomplished
and | have not hesitated to commend
him at certain points where some of
you have differed from me strongly.
/ do not envy the man his position.
The burden seems more than man can
bear: the pressure must be almost
superhuman. He is entitled TO our
prayers. our sympathy. our loyal sup
port. He Is our President, our ser
want; We are his people. Indeed,
this is not meant TO be a personal
criticism, but a consideration of a
very dangerous precedent.
Did I say the President blundered?
He should not have permitted him
self to become a partisan, though he
was perfectly assured that one party
or the other was right. That should
have beer the judgment of a board
of arbitration. The executive should
have been just as much the guardian
of the interests of the railroad pres
idents as the brotherhood presidents.
He should have said to both parties.
THE country must not have a strike.
This matter must be settled. With
both sides properly represented and
protected. the differences must be ad-
justed.' Such a position would have
given him the endorsement, possibly
of neither contending faction, but OF
the great mass OF our citizenship.
The course he followed has lost him
the support of many whose sympa-
thies are with the larger group of men
b,.t ,,,bo ooa tho parfI I'm stiph eOurep