Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-20

ASK PREVENTION
OF R. R. STRIKE
National Association Urges
Law to Assure Against
Interruption in Service.

Washington. D. c., Sept. 20.-P1ans
TOT protection of transportation from
interruption through labor disnutes
were presented to the COMMITTEES IN
interstate and foreign commerce Of
tne mouse OF representatives, wash
ihston, -: C.. in a statement by
stephen G. Mason, president of the
Natlonai Association of Manufacture
ers OF the United States, an organiza-
ton Of substantially 5000 firms and
comprising the largest single group
or Industrial shippers contributing to
the interstate and foreign
of the Union.
Asserting that no program Of rail
road regulation is complete that. does
not project the paramount public in
tercst in uninterrupted Transports
lion by rail. proposal was made that
appropriate legislation be enacted to
ptoVlae' llrst' whenever in the opin-
ION OIL the president of the United
States a dispute over hours. wages or
working conditions threatens the in
Lerruptlon OF a carrier essential to
civil or military governmental needs
or the Tree movement Of m
oetween' the states or with foreign
nations. he shall appoint a commits
SION to investigate and decide upon
the merits of the controversy, and
untll such finding is made any strike
or X shall be .Hunlawful; second,
that. under the authority estahlishe n
by the decision Of the supreme court
IN Inc case, whenever 3. Ia
DOR dispute threatens the operation of
an fundamentally of interstate com.
merce, the president shall have the
power TO appoint a commission which
would write a contract for the parties
~ dlspufe. to be binding upon them
until they reach a voluntary agree
ment by themselves, in which event
their agreement would supersede that
OIL the commission Through this le-
ga. practical method, freedom OF
contract would be left unimpaired I'M
less and until the parties are. unwill-
ing or unable to agree. in which event
the supreme interest Of the public is
asserted through its representatives.
Warns Against Intimidation OF Con.
Eress by Threat to Paralyze
Commerce.
n people Of the country, Presi-
gent MASON asserted, are now con-
must either assent through their rep
resentatives, in social self-defense, to
the control of congress over COM
merce between the states or submit
to its control and regulation by or
gained railway labor under the
threat. by concerted action. of par
yalyzing that commerce upon which
the life of the nation depends. He
considers it pertinent therefore to
raise the issue and ask the question
which the supreme court asked in
the Debs case. when the strong arm
OF the government was used to burst
away all obstruction to the freedom
Of interstate commerce or the trans
%portation Of the mails: IF a state
with Its recognized powers Of SOW
ereignty Is Important to obstruct In
terstate commerce., a 1t be that any
mere voluntary association of indi.
viduals within the limits Of that state
has q power which that state itself
does not possess:"
In answer he quotes the emphatic
declaration Of the courtathat ifsthis
were true. the whole interests 81
the nation fnsthese respects would be
at h absolute mercy of the tnhabi-
tants OF that single state" The time
has come, he declares. when not only
the entire strength Of the nation may
be used but should be used toenforce
In any and every part OF the land the
fuH and free movement OF commerce.
between the states and the free exer-
else of the Judgment OF the peoples
represent tivcs;; untimidated ny the
threat of Iparalyzed transportation.
Urging that q declaration OF a
great constructive policy Of transpor-
tation would clarity public thought
and stimulate aggressive buginess a
ttyttys Mr.. Mason asserted the belief
Of the members Of the National AZ.
ISOLATION OF Manufacturers that-the
railroads should be returned to their