South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-14
Another "SOOiet" Threat
Looming Up.


sorry arbtration.is quite "sovietish' for Amer
lean consumption.
The strike a a forcing adjustment of
differences between employers and employees is one
thing. and the absence of public machinery with
which 70 effect such adjustments more peaccaby
seemingly the worlingman's only resort. when
it comes to employing it as weapon for coeTc4ng
the pubIio--the peoples government-the strike
quite a different thing.
It has been used in this country just once. with
success-at the time If the passing the AdamsOn
law during the Mexican trouble. when with
Germany was threatenne.-and that is enough.
Congress excusable, perhaps, in that
cncy. due the OF provision made for settle
dispute. but II the railroad brotherhoods
imagine they re-empIoy that process now
gross should teach them their mistake and teach
promptly
The general idea embodied in the measure befOrs
congress j. "a good One-from the public standpoint.
and that is the standpoint for congress
it from; that and other. America has about
point where public welfare be
made TO come in dealing with capital and
Labor the of the individual either group
being secondary.
The United States is fundamentally a democracy.
peopIc-not the cIasses.-being sovereign. The
republic is form of government through which the
pIOying representatives elected by the such
ends There is nothing sovietish about it. We have
never recognized any group-Or sOviet.-pOIticaIly,
anC though they may exist and do exist Industrial
~ is disposition TO acccde politically to
ar industrial dictation-to which is very
apparent purpose of the strike threat.
Il
n TFcRE Iuymcn. of course, cannot presume know
wi all the provisions of the proposed anti-strike
law, but with that very much with the League OF
Nations covenant. the general principle is sound.
and though the machinery up may be trihe
faulty spots will quite certainly prove better
none. and those faults be irOned
they prove themselves, by appropriate amendments.
would say OF "A compulsory arbitration law,
that the should consist of a presiding judge,
a clerk and marshal. the parties in contest each
arbitrators t o with the Judge who
represents the pubIiC-and all power of the
government should stand behind that tribunal.
forcing its awards in both directions.
Even the permanent presiding Judge might be
dispensed with and the fifth man be chosen by the
named by the disputants The clerk and the
marshal might be sufficient standing machinery
there should be way putting a stop
the strike. and 1t Is the pubcs right. and the pub
lies business to put a stop il.
The strike go, and if there is soviet any
where-any group of capitalists or wOrkingmen,-
thinks il block the setting up of the
sary machinery such end, that soviet-or union
manufacturers association what not,-shouId be
emPhatically pushed aside.
Ill
IT might be well for the railroad brotherhoods and
L machnists to take a lesson from the experience
of thc~bituminous coal strikers The railroads
still under government control as a war measure.
peace has not been declared and any attempt
their part interfere with the operation OF the
roads, by concerted action. might also be regard
IS II conspiracy in violation of the Lever
They may also be given the chance to answer the
question whether they Americans boIshevists;
whether they will put their soviet above their gov
ernment; their union above their country?
COXey's army which marched on Washington back
in the early 'sO's TO tell congress what TO do to
IeVe the industrial depression that time, had
brains and Americansm in its hoofs. far in excess
of that being exhibited by these railroad from
up their heads.
COxey's army was at least Old-fashioned enough
. carry "A petition, denied the right Prest
Cleveland TO order off the capitol Iawn-whcre it
tramping down the rass.-asscrtns that it had
petition the government for redress OF
grievances under the amendment.
The railroad brOthcrhOods and machinists do
approach congress with n petition, but with a
strike; a great industrial army which says. you do
thus and viii tie up the transportation of
the country throw the nation into a panic.-Iet the
lives and the welfare of the public be damned.
True il may claim precedent. and rightly; that
old invisible COVE rnmcnt" operated by capt.
taIism. and it i to the credit of the railroad
that they not buying up senator's and represen-
tatiVes to do their work i'm secret They opera
ting i'm the open. As between the labor soviet"
and the invisible governments of the past the
soviet" i the more honorable.
Congress by the measure introduced. however.
the surface least. be trying do
something the public that will keep both capital
and labor in their place. and render the soviets of
both subservicnt rather than dictaory the
crnment-a quest of industrial justice for BOTH