The sun., 1919-10-02

tries would be wholly impracticable and
would be undesirable even IL 1t were
practicable. SO also It would probably
be impractlcabls and undesirable to pro-
hibit all combinations of laborers TO IN
crease their wages through strikes, even
though such combirat may create
practical monopolies of certain classes
OF labor. However, the regulation OF
wages and the prohibition Of strikes APP
pear to be necessary in the case OF
certain public utilities, like the railways,
and certain industries, like that Of pro-
duclng coal. because continuous and un-
interrupted operation of such utilities
and industries is essential to the life of
the community.
"The we'll organized unions Of railway
men and coal miners have established
practical mpnopolies of their classes OF
labor and unless restrained by law they
will be able to impose their Will upon
the community by threatening to arrest
industry and to deprive the people OF
the necessaries of life. In a free coun-
try such a power cannot be vested In
any one. No association or combina-
lion of persons can be allowed to make
itself the Judge Of the fairness Of. its
own demands or be permitted to hold
up the entire country under threat Of
lated by law these labor unions will be
more powerful than the Government it
self and they will possess unrestrained
power to exploit the entire country for
their own benefit.
mo person can be forced to engage
in any business or employment, but all
persons who, whether as owners or as
employees, choose to engage In the BUSH
ness of supplying the community with
services or commodities, such as rail-
way transportation or COAL of which an
uninterrupted supply is essential to the
life of the community, must be subjected
to Governmental regulation and control
to the extent necessary for the protec-
ton. of the community. Combinations
to stop the operation of public utilities
or industries of the character above de-
scribed through strikes or lockouts
should be prohibited by law, and either
the adjustment of wages and profits
in such utilities or industries should be
left to the operation of competition in
supply and demand or both wages and
profits should be fixed by Governmental
boards or commissions on the basis of
the wages of similar labor and the
profits of similar capital employed in
other industries.
ut seems obvious that all persons
who accept employment under the Gov
eminent, such as policemen, firemen and
postmen, should be required by law to
do so upon condition that they shall
not join in strikes or become members
Of any association or combination which
may prevent them from performing
loyalty their duties to the public.
''12. When controversies between en-
ployers of labor and their employees
are submitted to arbitration the arbi-
traitors appointed by each side usually
are interested persons and the ultimate
decision is left to one person acting as
umpire. In such arbltrations 1t Is rare
that the interests of the public are con-
sidered. In case of public utility or
industry the continuous operation of
which cannot be interrupted without
peril to the community, power to de-
eide all such controversies should be
vested In the board or commission es-
tablished by law for the regulation of
the utility or industry"