The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-02
PROTECT PUBLIC
| FROM TIE-UPS
Senator Robinson Advocates
Law to Prohibit Strikes OIL
Lockouts on Railroads. !
BACKS CUMMINS BILE

washington, Sept. "A law W
prohibit strikes or lockouts OF rail1
road employees and thus to protecS
the public from transportation tte-
ups was advocated by Senator Rob-
inson, democrat, of Arkansas, In M
address today In the senate.
"The time has come" he sait
when congress must protect III
public against loss of life and proph
ertv and widespread suffering, which
will inevitably result II the railroadA
should be tied UP by general strike
"The right to strike has heretofore
been recognized in our laws, partics
ularly In certain provisions or tna
CLAYTON act. Those laws should -
modified and strikes of employees on
railroads engaged in interstate COM
merce should be forbidden"
Senator Robinson's address was II
analysis and commentator OF TN
bill by Senator Cummins, republican,
of Iowa. drafted by the senate IN.
terstate commerce subcommittee pro-
posing a permanent railroad policy
of private ownership and operation
of railroads, under strict government
superyision, and with committee on
wages and working conditions COM
posed equally of employers ana en-
ployes whose recommendations would
be subject to final decision OF the
interstate commerce commission.
Rights Amply Protected.
The Cummins bill, according to
Senator Robinson, who was MEM
Der of the drafting subcommittee,
amply protects the rights OF en-
ployes, employers and the public.
"While the right of the laborers to
quit employment for any reason Is
recognized and preserved Tin the
bilD," said Senator Robinson, com
binatons or agreements to hinder.
restrain or prevent the movement OF
commodities or persons In interstate
commerce or agreements which nave
that effect are likewise penalized.
"The provision by law of fair
tribunal to settle disputes between
railroads and their employees Is, OF
course, a prerequisite in any plan
fairly calculated 70 relieve the coun-
trv from the menace of strikes and
lockouts that will restrain or prevent
interstate commerce. 1t Is tndispen-
sable to the comfort and life OF our
people that commerce be continued,
and no system which leaves COM
merce subject to the will of individ-
uals or organizations among them
can be justified
"In the interests OF the laborsrs
themselves, and more particularly IN
the interests of the general public,
congress should deal with this sub
iect comprehensively and oour-
ageously.
Public Interest Paramount.
at Is desirable IL possible to de-
wise a plan that will meet with the
approval of the laborers and at the
same time fairly safeguard the pub
lie interest. But It might as well be
understood In the beginning that
the question Is one in which the
public interest Is equal to that OF the
railroads and the laborers. If not con-
trolling, and that under our system
of government, while no man should
be compelled to perform involuntary
servitude except as a punishment 1Q
crime, and while the full freedom
and right OF employees as individuals
TO quit work at will must be pre-
served, the dangers of general
strike or lockout which would sus-
pend commerce are so apparent and
| far reaching that disputes likely to
result in strikes or Iockouts on rail-
roads must be determined in an or
| dnrlY manner"