The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-03-16
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ON THE BRINK OF CHAOS. y
M IA n u IA m N M "a -

M N n n "a N n m "a -
In Russia there is q revolution and
the czar has abdicated.
: In this country we are also on the
eve of a revolution, and at this hour
there is apparently no power to stay
it.
We are in that strange position
where all the people do not rule, and
where the president, who is the head
of the people, apparently cannot rule;
and where Congress and court and the
president jointly cannot rule.
Yea, verify, we are approaching an
archy in this wonderful republic Of
ours.
| We seem to be unable to function
as a government even in a time Of
peace.
While this country is not at war with
any other nation, we r almost in a
condition of war with other nations.
We are beset with difficulties abroad,
and at this instant we are threatened
with an internal convulsion.
The government Of the United
States and the flag of the republic
today demand that all people rally un-
der it, and that all people give it their
pledge of their loyal support.
Last August four railway brother
hoods demanded ten hours pay for
eight hours work. The railroads re-
fused.
There was an offer of arbitration.
The brotherhoods claimed that they
had not before Jared well in arbitra-
ton, and they refused to accept this
method of a settlement.
When both sides were about to
fight, the president went before Con-
gress. Congress passed the Adamson
law. The railroads attacked the
Adamsan law on the ground of it be-
ing unconstitutional. The law has
been declared by an inferior court to
be unconstitutional,
That case Is now before the Su-
preme Court Of the United States.
The supreme court is taking its time
about rendering a decision, as it
ought and must.
The supreme court Is the last trib-
unal In this republic. Necessarily it
must make haste slowly.
Let it be said in all the history of
this great court it has never made a
decision that has limited the liberty
Of the citizen under the constitution.
The Supreme Court of the United
States, more than any other force in
the world, has indicated the rights
Of men, and has written these rights
Of men into the law Of the land.
The bretherhoods have demanded
that the railroads Immediately follow
the directions of the Adamson law.
The railroads insist on waiting for
the supreme court decision.
The railroads then offered to let the
question 60 to an arbitration before
the commission Of which Gen Goeth-
-
ais is the chief. This is the eight
hour commission appointed by the
president. ,
The br%otherhoods rejected this
proposition, The railroads and the
brotherhoods, then, have broken.
There is an order for the beginning
Of the strike next Saturday.
The strike will begin in New York,
and then will extend to Chicago and
then to St. Louis. The strike will be
progressive, II the strike goes
through as planned, before another
week the transportation system of
this country will be paralyzed. The
exchange Of commodities will be
stopped. There will be decentralization
and chaos, and then there will be star
walton.
There are certain cities in the Unit
ed States that have not food sufficient
for a weeks rations. In this south Of
ours there are vast communities in
the country, and there are cities
which could not survive without out
side food supplies for a month.
Fhis whole matter ought to be
~peaceasly adjusted. The power Of the
United States ought to be brought to
bear over both disputants, over both
railroads and employees; and both
should be reminded that there are
100000, 900 people in the United States
not directly nor indirectly engaged in
railroad transportation, or in railroad
service, that are not willing to be
~jeopardized in their lives, and in their
health, and in their property, by a
struggle which could be avoided
through the exercise Of patience and
common sense.
There must be power through the
Constitution Of the United States to
the president to save the life Of the
republic and to save the citizsns Of
the republic when the life Of the ve=
public is in danger, and when the well
fare Of the citizens Of the republic Is
at stake.
II two groups Of men in this Unit
ed States cannot agree, and II there
failure brings on . fight that involves
everybody else, then everybody else