The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-29
THE RALLYINC CRY.

With splendid courage and with full realization of his
responsibility to the public President Wilson has given
notice of action in the coal strike situation.
He has appealed to the miners to withdraw their strike
order and prevent stoppage of work Coupled with this
appeal is firm and unequivoca declaration that if the
strike not called the law will be enforced and the in
terests of the nation will be protected.
From his sick bed the President has issued state
ment outlining his position, in which this paragraph
stands out solemn warning to selfish interests
1t is time for plain speaking These matters
with which now deal touch not only the
welfare of a class, but vitality concern the we'll
being, the comfort and the very life of all the
people. ! feel it is my duty in the public in
terests to declare that any attempt to carry out
the purpose of this strike and thus paralyze the
industry of this country, with the consequent
suffering and distress of all people, must
be considered grave moral and legal wrong
against the government and the people of the
United States. l can do nothing else than to
say that the law will be enforced and means will
be found to protect the interests of the nation
in any emergency that may arise out of this
happy business
This declaration of the determination of the admin
sraton protect the national interest this recogn
ton of the paramountcy of the public interest draws the
all patriotic citizens in the midst of the camor and up
roar Of industrial strife
There is no lodging no Stiffness no pandering to po
tical expedency the part of President Wilson "The
law will be enforced" aid "the means will be found
protect the interests of the nation in any emergency"
Upon this platform the President has taken his stand
and behind him will line up the millions of loyal patriot
ic citizens who place the interests of all the people be-
fore their own individual interests.
There is law upon the statute books to uphold the
of the Executive in his defense of the nation against
class attack The Lever act under which food and fuel
control exercised during hosttes, is still in full
force and will remain until peace has been formally
proclaimed It imposes penalties upon those who
conspre to interfere with the production and dstrbu
ton Of fuel such strike in the bituminous fields
doubtedy would be- 1t authorizes the President to fix
prices and make rules for the distribution of fuel it
powers him to take and operate mines and in many
other ways exercise supervision the production of
coal.
That Federal troops may be employed to guard min
ing property and to protect miners who willing to
work in the face of strike there be doubt, If
the government has the constitutional right to operate
trains in order to keep the mails moving it has the right
procure the fuel necessary the operation of trains
interstate commerce.
The mines must be operated at all costs in order to
avoid national calamity and if the law upon the stat
books is insufficient Congress should additional
legislation to give the government ample power to deal
with the situation in accordance with President Wilson's
stated purpose
Let Congress show its courage in this critical situa
ton Let the Senate and House demonstrate that they
are brave enough to oppose organization containing
hundreds and thousands of voters aside thoughts of
political advantage and stand up and be counted as
champions of all the people, regardless of class.
An industrial crisis confrons the United States
in with other nations. Either the government
must rule for the benefit of all the people class dom
nation will subvert the government in favor of some
against the many, Unless organized labor whole re.
pudates the coal and insists that they shall stand
by their contract the result will inevitably be clash be-
tween the government and organized labora most re-
grettable conflict from any point of view All the ar
duous progress of organized labor toward permanently
better conditions all the confidence and admiration which
by its splenddy patriotic conduct during the war
would be jeopardized by the antagonism that would
spring up in the hearts of patriotic citizens against any
person organization that dares to align itself against
the United States
This feeling of antagonism would not be confined out
side of labor unions 1t would include ten of thousands
of union members who already frettng against the
iladvised of of their leaders Union labor
whole is American not foreign 1t keeps step to the
music of the Union. 1t will not be wheedled into po-
sition Of antagonsm to the government of the United
States by the plausible arguments of leaders under alien
influence. If union labor cannot be American and join
in the international movement it will be American and cut
out this nternationasm that is drawing it into conflict
with the government.
Health and strength to Woodrow Wilson, President of
the United States The people respond to his ralying
and will support him in this business to the end
Washington Post