Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-09-29
To The Editor Of The Sun:


rule2
This is a vital issue not merely in
New York City but in the nation For
the first time in our history it is now
put squarely before the voters OF the
country.
II is not question OF being For
or Against the institution of organi-
zed labor, but it is purely a question
Of who shall rule this great repub-
lie.
Here in New York we have the abb
surd situation Of a handful OF citizens
representing the proposed wishes of
perhaps less than one-half of ! per
cent. of the population undertaking a
sympathetic" strike TO bring to a
standstill the activities in the daily
life of the other 1919 per cent-about
100000 people And these people
are to suffer because a traction com
pany stands by its 10000 or 1900 EN-
ployes who are satisfied with their
employment and who refuse to break
their contracts and to abandon their
own union TO Join the organization
ordering the strike.
To win this point, if the strike lead
ers have their way, the vast popula-
ton Of the city is deprived Of its right
to work, to have light, heat and food.
and TO enjoy the guaranteed privileges
Of citizenship. The suffering and loss
Of life among the poor and sick and
among the victims Of riots and VIC
lence which these leaders encourage
Is of no concern to them. No law can
reach the authors of such a calamity.
In our 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-
thorlty? Hughes says NO" Wilson,
by his acts, says Yes" The voter
now has a chance to decide who is
right
There are many important issues,
but the average man would like to
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-
ployers, as has recently been done
Shall our 36,0O0s000 workers (not
including the professions) continue to
submit without protest to the injus-
tice so ofen committed in the name
Of American labor by the 707 per cent.
of their number who are unionized?
Shall this vast number of workers
remain mute and Indifferent in the
face of the unprecedented indignity
and humiliation which IL per cent. of
their number (the railway brother
hoodsl have forced upon the Presi-
dent and Congress?
Shall the leaders Of the 100000
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 14.255 900 Ameri-
can citizens, /the so-cailed "toiling
mass" who are engaged In our min
ing. manufacturing. mechanical and
transportation industries?
Shall the 27,000.000 men Of voting
age in the United States be controlled
and their legislation dictated by the
labor leaders representing but 2,000,-
600. or per cent. of their number?
is ii not time that the ninety eight
submerged millions should be heard on
the question of their own punishment
in labor disputes?
Is it not time for every American
60 shake off the absurd fear Of being
classed 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 1t not the fear Of the so-called
labor vote" that frightened Democ-
rscy into exempting in the income tax
a 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
defcit? Is this equality before the
law?" Is II not creating such a priv
LEGGED class by statute?
with the Tabor vote terror upon
him he and his party have made other
similar surrenders to political exped-
iency.
If a business organization continues
to perform an act in the restraint of
trade il must pay the penalty of the
law. but labor unions under the vii
son surrender may commit the same
offence and escape the penalty He
has also exempted them SO far as he
could from punishment for violating
court injunctions. This was a special
concession to strikers.
How many Of the submerged $4,000
600 citizens believe in this class legis-
lation?
And now Mr.. Wilson has established
the precedent that the power of the
President and Congress may be used
TO compel employers 20 accede to the
demands Of a mere fraction Of the
dominant per cent.
The Justice of the strikers demands
is one thing; the surrender Of the
power Of the Government 70 strike
leaders is another thing. and vital
What would MIR Wilson have done
If a foreign force had appeared and
threatened to paralyze our commerce
and starve our people if they did not
nav a cash tribute Of S60,000000 an
nually7 Would he have sounded the
usual surrender and retreat? Would