Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-24
FRIDAY "a. 1919
sTRAWs SHOW DIRECTION OF
WIND.

fsv weeks ago the federal gov
ernment had occasion to take the Dull
nv the horns and notify certain rall-
way strikers who were tying up tratii'
bstyeeh California and the rest OF the
country. that their places would DE-
filled BY others if they did not at once
go TO work. No mention was Aaae
of the source from which the opera'-
ing men would be secured. One couio
read between the lines,
But this week Director Hines De
came n little more specific in notify
ing 10000 American Express COM
nanv employees, principally drivers IN
New York, that their places would De
fnlca nv soldiers if work were not a.
once resumed. The government nae
the men available for such duty. But
n few DAYS earlier 500 soldiers Will
inplv did certain work New 1orF
1ongshoremen were holding ~. 1he
war mower conferred upon the ao-
ministration is not all Withdrawn ana
will be extended if necessary to pre-
won't the people of the United states
being put into the hungry conuitloH
Of a blockaded European country IN
time of war. The status that pre-
vailed during the war, that any de-
mand an organization might make
would he granted in order not to FISK
impeding war plans. has passed.
The president took stand re"
weeks ago against railway efforts for
immediate advances. His language
asking postponement was of char
acter TO indicate that he was reaching
The limit, under present conditions OF
compliance with calls for wage IN
creases. The conservative railway or
ganizations followed the advice or inc
president and such employees as were
striking returned to work to avian
boped-for reduction in living expenses
But their leaders still indicate thaF
A general strike is probable Presi-
dent Gompers. of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, has even gone SO
far as to tell a congressional COM
mittee that in case congress adopts
the Cummins railway bill for regu-
lation of the roads and preventing
organized strikes, that would stop
traffic. such law by the United
States would not be obeyed by the
unions
OF course. a statute could not pre-
vent an employe resigning, and
would only cover conspiracies, or
agreements by organizations to strike
such a general strike could occur
now. but it would be so disastrous to
the country that the government
could not permit 1t to continue indefi-
nitely, even If this is q democracy,
where the idea of the use Of troops
except for war purposes has never
been favored. 1t would not take long
for the people to approve of any
method TO put transportation lines
to moving supplies for living. Even
so firm a democrat as Grover Cleve-
land used troops without the request
of the socialist governor in Illinois
before the president had the authority
now exercised at Washington. The
recent orders to military commanders
to supply soldiers when requested by
any governor, related to restoration
of order and prevention of turbulence
But it is an active step toward pro
lection to the country, and following
out the policy would result in man
ming trains with soldiers to haul foot
and other supplies through the United
States. The government could no
only put armed men on trains, Blu
find within the forces, or by recruit
ing, a multitude of men capable o
performing mechanical duties. II
case there were no other way to keel
transportation lines in operation.
The Journal does not think thu
railway forces will ever vote to go t
the extreme that spokesman threaten
for the employees are fully as patriot,
as the average of citizens and viii
realize in due time that compromise
are necessary for the good of all. anC
fairness of the people will lead t.
adjustment.
It is not probable that the people
favor statute to prevent railwa!
strikes. The idea has not been gen
orally digested, because necessity hai
not come. But it is certain that i
the public were put into serious
straits there would quickly be reached
a state of mind upon the part of mos
of the loo. 100000 population tha
would cause congress and the presi.