Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-01
CRITICISMS or RAILROAD MsA.
SURE OF IOWA SENATOR NOT
JUSTIFIED ~ FACTS.
DOES NOT PREVENT MEN
FROM QUITTING JOBS
No Slavery Principle Involved In Mea-
sure Which Would Prevent Conspl.
racy Against Operation Of Railroad
lines-LittIe Cause for Strikes "
Bill is Enacted Into Law.
IBv II. q. Dougherty.l

| Washington, Oct. Retention and
strengthening Of the anti-strike clause
Of the railroad biu introduced in the
senate by Senator Cummins. of Iowa.
rather than its elimination, was urged
today by the Republican Publicity As.
sociation thru its president former
| Senator Jonathan Bourne.
The American people should not be
! misled by the efforts of certain leaders
of organized labor TO misrepresent the
! provisions of the Cummins Dali rela-
tive to strikes Ir. Bourne said. "TRe
declaration that no power can consu-
tutionaly prevent men from leaving
their work at will is entirely irreve-
liant. There Is no provision, either by
direction or by inference, Curtailing
the right of any employe to quit at
any time. In fact, the last clause OF
the paragraph touching upon the
rights OF employees declares that
nothing herein shall be taken TO deny
any individual the right to quit his
employment for any reason"
The act which is made Illegal Is de-
fined by that portion OF the section
which says:
IF two or more persons enter Int:
ANY combination or agreement with
the intent substantially to hinder. re-
strain or prevent movement of COM
modities or persons in interstate COM
merce; or enter into any combination
or agreement which substantially him
ders, restraints or prevents the move
- in v
terstate commerce. such persons shall
be deemed guilty Of conspiracy and
shall be punished by fine not exceed
ing $780, by imprisonment not exceed
ing six months, or by both such fine
and Imprisonment; provided, that
nothing herein shall be taken to deny
10 any individual the right to quit his
employment for any reason
There's Difference.
There is a vast and essential diff
ference between quitting ones en-
ployment and conspiring to hold up
the transportation systems OF the ma
ton. One Is the exercise of the In
dividual right to life, liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness. The other is
direct and dangerous attack upon the
"
Under present-day industrial and So
cial conditions. transportation Is of the
utmost importance. The transporta-
ton Of food from the country to the
city depends entirely upon the contin-
uance of railroad traffic. Paralysis Of
railroad transportation for a week
would mean untold suffering and
enormous loss of life in every great
city Of the country. 1t is for the pro-
lection of the people. who depend for
their occupation their comfort and
their life upon uninterrupted railroad
transportation. that this important
provision was included in the Cum
minis bill. It should be enacted sub
stantially in its present form except
the maximum penalties should be
greatly increased. Wilful efforts to
destroy the life. liberty and happiness
Of our citizens cannot be too severely
punished.
NO honest, patriotic, law abiding
citizen in railroad employment could
fear persecution under such provt-
sion. There is expressly reserved and
guaranteed to him the right to quit
for any reason. II it should be alleged
that he had quit as one Of a number
Of conspirators. he could be convicted
only after trial by jury Of twelve
men. whose unanimous verdict would
be necessary to establish his guilt
ANY man who Is unwilling to sub
NIT his acts to the decision Of Jury
under the provisions Of a section pro-
tecting his rights as that section does,
already convicts himself Of DISPOSE
ton and intention to subordinate the
welfare of the nation to his own self
ish interests and desires. He Is q
dangerous citizen to whose opinions
congress should give little heed"
Civil Service Reforms.
Fundamental changes in the civil