The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-12-13
GoDenor BunquiSt ReDieJDS
ButtonControUerSy GiUen As
Cause Of Twin City Strike


ton than to eliminate thereby a
cause of irritation between the men
and among the passengers and 10
maintain peace and order on the cars,
the Safety commission attacked no
principle of unionism.
THE constitution Of the Garments
union Itself does not require the
wearing of button. The order would
not prevent the men from wearing,
on civilian clothes, any union insignia
they see fit. and except on company
property. does not prohibit solicita-
ton OF union memberships. All
agree that continued agitation on the
property of the company, resulting in
the loss Of service to the public,
should not be permitted.
"comnission Protects Labor"
''The fifth and last subdivision Of
the preamble alleges, that the con-
duct of the Public Safety commission
in disregarding the constitutional
rights Of American citizens is detri-
mental to the best interests OF the
government Of the United States in
behalf OF its great struggle OF de-
mocracy.'
CAS- shown above. the commission
has protected organized labor and a
compliance with its order would have
resulted in saving the unions. The
constitution or laws Of state or ma
tion do not compel the street railway
company to hire union men and much
less men who fail to comply with its
orders. The company has
the rights to prescribe
uniform for its employees and If so it
can legally prevent the wearing on
the uniform of anything which will
tend to stir up dissension so as to
make 1t impossible to give the public
the best service OF which ii is cap
able. The Safety commission has,
through its orders, reinstated, as /
have said. discharged union men and
established the understanding that no
union man should be discharged by
reason of membership in a union, al
though the company had the consti-
tutiona1 right to discharge without
cause any man or men 1t desired to
discharge. Personally II has always
been my contention that there should
be no discrimination against union
men. They have, in my opinion, just
as much right to be members Of a
labor union. which may be a corpora
tion under the laws Of the state, as
shareholders in financial enterprises
have to be stockholders Of their duly
organized corporations.
Greater Cooperation Urged.
'In the struggle for democr;t D., to
which your resolution refers, it seems
to me we could accomplish much
more If, during the war, all agitation
for unionism or nonunionism cease
if the feeling between capital and Ia
Dor were more friendly and IL there
were a greater number OF lnselfish
capitalists and fewer labor agitators
and political demagogues.
For a public official there is only
one course to pun Ee When he be-
lieves organized labor is in the right
he should not permit any employer
or any capitalized corporation, how
ever great their influence may be, to
lead him to leave the position taken
in its behalf. When. however. he be-
lieves that the employer or organized
capital is in the right he should not
permit any employees or unioniZed
labor, through threats of riots, strike
or bloodshed, to make him change his
course.
cat the time the Twin City Rapid
Transit company discharged the men
above referred to, they were, in my
opinion, wrong and took the part of
the union men. Inasmuch as organ
ized labor refused to comply with a
fair order of the Public Safety COM
which, it was led to believe
by a representative OF labor was
agreed upon and would, If adopted,
be complied with, organized labor
was, in my opinion, wrong and for
that reason am. insofar as the sec
ond order is involved, opposing your
position. Nothing can be more harm
full to the advance Of true democracy,
for which we are ali contending. than
attempts to force governmental au-
thorities to yield what they believe is
right through the trying up Of indus
tries by means Of sympathetic strikes
Or, what is still worse, by such riots
as was experienced in st. Paul last
week.
Regrets Necessity of Guard.
"Your resolution suggests that /
remove two members OF the commits
sion. and appoint in their place men
by two different organ
IZations. ! am at all times willing TO
receive advice as to appointments
from laborers. from farmers and from
all Organizations and individuals, but
the executive power Of appointment
cannot and should not be delegated.
1T is my duty as governor to use
every governmental agency and all
the resources of the state to enforce
It's laws. If we are to have stable
government, compliance with orders
Of the executive department of the
state is necessary. believe in pro-
Eecting organized and unorganized
labor and the lives and the property
of all our citizens, conscientiously
and impartially.
Il regret that it was made neces-
sary for me to mobilize force in the
twin cities to be used if necessary to
maintain law and order. This force
was assembled and will be assembled
whenever the situation demands 1t, to
permit the street railway company to
give proper transportation facilities
10 all employees and all other. en-
ployes and citizens who use the
street cars in going to and from their
work.
Has Faith in Union Labor.
The failure of a small minority OF
street railway employees to comply
with q reasonable order OF the State
Safety commission does not deserve
The sympathy of other unions but
should be condemned by them. Re-
'usal to take advantage OF an order
On the part of the carmen's union |
must not be allowed to cripple our
industries, many OF which
are now so essential In our Common
struggle against monarchical gov
srnment
Il have SUFFICIENT faith In union la
Dor and in all laboring men to be-
lieve that when the facts are known
4 large majority Of them, paying no
attention TO paid labor agitators,
ssaT4s sfrFW f~Fa ~.
auences of alien enemies, will oppdle
nv anflnn 4uhfnh rari1I h an ir1i11..rt