Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-24
CONGRESS- AND THE STRIKE
PROBLEM.

before the strike problem. Last week
President Wilson went to the Capitol
and personally appealed for more en-
ergetic action on that subject, but as
yet no speed-up results are reported.
FIX What the President is asking for at
this time is legislation providing for
compulsory delay until the merits of
proposed strike can be investigated.
That is an exceedingly conservative
request. It is but first step in the
direction of a proper solution of the
problem.
There are three differently interested
parties to every strike, the public, the
employers and the employees. The
public, however, is far more interested
than either of the other two. Every
strike is loss and inconvenience to
the general public. The public has moth
ing to gain but everything to lose as
the result of strike. It follows, with
as much certainty as night follows day
that the public has right to demand
government protection against such
losses.
The strike has no proper place in
any system Of government; it is based
upon no better foundation than bar
barrie force; it is contrary to a uni
versally recognized principle of law;
it issrecognized and tolerated because
the public has provided no legal n
just means for the settlement of dis
putes between employers and employ
ees;. it is tolerated upon the theory
that necessity knows no law; it is
tolerated because the public has neg
lected to so legislate as to remove that
necessity.
Strikes result in most instances
from disagreements over wage ques-
lions, and the public must provide
some lawful method for the settlement
Of these questions before it can out
law the strike. But, after the public
has done it's full duty in the premises,
after it has provided plain, speedy
and adequate method for the settle
ment OF such disputes, then its power
to deal with organized bodies of strik-
ers will be as unquestioned as its
power to deal with mob, or an invad-
ing army.
There would not be anything in the
nature OF involuntary servitude" In
making it unlawful to belong to an
organization that would resort to
strikes instead of the law for the set
Element Of differences between its
members and their employers.
No man should be held in any serv-
Ice minute longer than he desires
to remain, but no man should have the
right the threaten to do some act,
which would greatly damage others,
unless accorded some personal advant-
age for himself The attempt to Sc
cure an advantage or benefit in that
way is contrary to a generally recog-
nized principle of law. In Iowa such
threats are covered by Section 4767,
Supplement Code of Iowa, 1918, which
reads as follows:
IF any person, either verbally or
by any written or printed communica-
ton. maliciously threaten to accuse
another of crime or offense, or to
do any injury to the person or proper
ty of another, with intent to extort
any money or pecuniary advantage
whatever, or to compel the person SO
threatened to do any act against his
will, he shall be imprisoned in the
spenitentiary not more than five years
cr be fined not exceeding one Thousand
dollars, or be imprisoned in the county
iail not exceeding one year, or both
such fine and Imprisonment"
President Wilson is not asking t"r
sall the legislation necessary Oh the
.strike question, and 1t does seem
rs though the moderate request he is
now making should be promptly en-
acted into law. He will undo,. btedlr
complete his program when the Su-
preme Court renders its decision
IN the case now on appeal to determine
the validity of the Adamson law In
that case the court will probably de-
eide whether congress has or has moi
the power to fix the wages Of men en.
ragged in interstate commerce.
Such power may call for some new
Y wood on our constitutional tree. That
] however, would be in keeping with tn
best feature of the Common Law. l
( is q growing system Of Jurisprudence
It puts forth fresh green branches t
i meet the requirements of society Il
every age. The present time calls TO
broad legislative powers to end for
ever the strike menace.
Holstein breeders the country owe
are rejoicing in the wonderful recor
3 made last month by Segis Fayne Jo
hanna, an eight-year-old Holster
COW owned by Oliver Cabana, jr.
1 New York. She is the first COW tha
ever produced more than SO pounds
butter in z days. She won her rigt
to the title of queen by beating a
former records.
..The noblest utterance that ha