Republican farmer., 1919-09-05
SENATOR WANTS LAW ID PREVENT
 TRANSIT TIEUPS
Robinson Says Time Has Come to Stop General
 Strikes On Roads
COMMENDS MEASURE
 OF IOWA SENATOR
Desires Legislation Passed Which Will Meet With
 Labor's Approval

Washington, Sept. 3.---A law to pro. hibit strikes or lockOuts of railroad employees and thus protect the public from transportation tie-ups was ad- vocatel by Senator Robinson, Demo- crat, Arkansas, in an address yester- day in the Senate.
 The time has come" he said, . when Congress must protect the pub lie against loss of life and property and widespread suffering which will incvietably result if the railroads
 should be tied up by q general strike. The right to strike has heretofore been recognized in our laws partic- ularly in certain provisions of the Clayton act. Those laws should be modified and strikes of employees on railroads engaged in interstate com merce should be forbidden"
 Senator ROmbinsou's $ address was in analysis and commendation of the bill by Senator Cummins, Republican. of Iowa, drafted by the Senate inter state commerce sub committee pro- posing a permanent railroad policy of private ownership and operation of "a lrJads, under strict government sll- peryisiOn, and with a committee on wages and working conditions com posed equally of employees and em- ] ploycrs, whose recommendations would be subject to final decision of ! the Interstate Commerce Commis-
 sion.
 | The Cummius bill, according to Sen ator Robinson, who was a member of the drafting subcommittee, amply | protects the rights of employees. en- l ployers and the public
 While the right of the laborers to | quit employment for any reason is i recognized and preserved Gin the 1 bilD,' said Senator Robinson, com | binaGOns of agreements to hinder. re- strain or prevent the movement of commodities or persons in interstate commerce or agreements which have | thcir effect are likewise penaIized l ~The provision by law of a fair tri- | bunal to settle disputes between rail- roads and their employees is, of course, a prerequisite in any plan fairly cal Culat5d 10 relieve the country from ! Ithe menace of strikes and lockouts that will restrain or prevent inter- ! state commerce It is indespensabTe
 to the comfort ard life of our people | that commerce be continued and no
 system which leaves commerce sub l jo2t to the will of individuals can be | justified
 Tn the interests of the 1sborers | themselves and more particularly in ' the interests of the general public. l Congress should deal with this sub | ject comprehensively and courage ously.
 ! Tt is desirable if possible to devise | a plan that will meet with the ap- provaI of the laborers and at the same
 time fairly safeguard the public in- terest. But it might as well be under stood at the beginning that the ques-
 ton is one in which the public inter ! est is equal to that of the railroads ! and the laborers, if not controlling. 1 and that under our system of govern ment- while no man should be com pelled to perform involuntary servi- tude. except as a punishment for crime, and while the full freedom and right of employes, individuals to quit work at will must be preserved, the dangers of a. general strike or lockout which would suspend commerce are 50 apparent and far reaching that dis nItos likely to result in strikes or loclsouts on railroads must be deter mined in an orderly manner"