Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-15
Four Minute Talks
BY WILLIAM H. BAWDEN
AMERICANISNI

In an editorial entitled THE Law
Is Supreme" the New York Times of
November IL says: Admirable in
form and worthy of higher
praise because of its spirit, the state
ment made by the executives of the
United Mine Workers at the close OF
the meeting at which they prepared
the communication withdrawing the
strike order changes at nee the pub
lie attitude toward them and toward
their demands. We are Americans.
We cannot fight u Government
That is Americanism, 1t is a conclu-
sion stated in an American way, and
the fact that it was expected makes
it no less deserving of recognition"
Our own EVENING NEWS, COM
menting on the same situation in an
editorial of the same date, says:
ut is the true spirit of every loyal
American today. Many things take
place in government circles that we
may not approve of and that cause
us to criticize and protest. We will
do everything within IL power to
correct that which we believe to be
wrong. But, being Americans. we
cannot fight our government once the
government has taken a stand We
will obey the laws as Interpreted by
the courts like good citizens, but
NAS 49, ASNi6 ~ a. NS'N9
what we car to elect men to office
who will make the laws what We
think they ought to be. The action
of the officials of the miners union
in calling off the strike in compliance
with the court order Is particularly
gratifying because it was beginning to
look as if labor, under radical leader
ship, was inclined to place allegiance
to their federation first and allegi-
oY1pn 10 thair naIpfrxy gnnnn1 -
Theodore Roosevelt, that sturdy
American, said in 1907:
Other republics lave failed be-
aus the citizens gradually grew to
consider the interests of a class
against the whole, for, when such
was the case, it mattered not wheth-
er the Door p~lundered the rich or the
rich exploited the poor; in either
case the end of the republic was at
hand We are resolute not to fall
into such a pit. This great republic
of ours shall never become the gov
eminent of a plutocracy n 1t shall
never become the government of the
mob. God willing, 1t shall De what
our forefathers who founded it meant
it to be-a government where each
is given the largest personal liberty
consistent with securing the well-be-
ing of the whole and where, SO far
as III us lies, we SIfiNe continually 10
secure for each man such equality of
opportunity that, in the strife of life,
he may have a fair chance to show
the stuff that is in him"
The United States Constitution Is
admittedly imperfect, just rs the
Covenant of the League of Nations
Is imperfect. But both documents
are SO far In advance of anything
enacted up to their time that they
are worth putting into effect and try
ing out. Such a staunch patriot as
Benjamin Franklin admitted having
grave doubts about parts of the Con
stitution. and yet unhesitatingly sign
ed it as a step in the right direction.
Under it the people of the United
States have developed into the
strongest nation of modern times.
Anything and anybody that is con-
trary thereto is ~unamerican, no mat
ter how fine it may be from any other
point Of view. To live in accord with
its spirit and to abide by it's letter.
no matter how we NAV wish to the
contrary. no matter with what neon
venience or loss to ourselves, that is
Am ericanism.