Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-23

woo0 NUSs0 w. ~ ssevS 49,
Asssrs ~ cesntry - having SoesAse
fron their position. Ths Drivers want
higher wages but thsy alse want The
Jobs. Perhaps they nssd mere wares
bds they need the Jobs worse Enough
face to face with the ,sss Of the Jobs
and with the power Of The nation thsy
concluded to ssick to the Jobs and
await the decisson OF the only body
legally qualified 10 adjudicats tho con-
troversy.
These men were employed In pub
lie service. necessary to the welfare of
the business OF tn city and country.
They have no moral right to embarrass
or destroy that welfare by collective
refusal TO do their duty. Neither has
employing agencies moral right to
lockouts. That u coming to be ac-
cepted by organised labor as Il is ac-
cepted by the public. An instance OF
acceptance OF public responsibility as
Il is Of excellent business sense was
displayed a. Cedar Rapids recently
when the federation Of labor an
nounccd ne attitude toward pubic
service as follows:
Recognising a feeling existing at
this time upon the part OF certain sin
cere citisens who may object to men
employed by the city in certain capa :
cities having AFFILIATED with labor or
ganixations because of the belief that
the property interests of the COM
munity might be endangered. We de-
sire q, this time TO be placed squarely
upon record to the end that there may
be no misunderstanding regarding
such matters in the future. We there
fore etate that the Cedar Rapids Fed
Grafton Of Labor. IN seeking reccg-
milton OF the union OF stationary oilers
and fremen, viii IN no manner coun-
tenance any agreement, written or
oral. between said union and the city
OF Cedar Rapids that does not con-
tain an ARBITRARY and mandatory
clause that win prevent strikes,
coupled with further provision that
forces complete acceptance Of the pro-
visions of the Cedar Rapids plan OF
adjustment. To this provision and this
stipulation the stationary firemen and
oilers union No. sac has given full &C
ceptance and has so stated to the
water works board Of trustees"
Argument upon the question whether
or not a city or a nation should enter
into agreement TO employ only those
who belong to a close organization and
pay such employees with taxes paid by
all citizens may be left for later con-
alteration. But the action Of the Cedar
Rapids federation il evidence Of a
change Of direction and a very sensible
and gratifying change.
Then what Of the coal strike? The
mere fact that employment Is under a
national board or under city officials
has nothing to do with the right and
wrong Of a strike. II all comes back
to public responsibility and the duty ..
those who. by labor or otherwise con-
troll the output Of mines or the trans
portasion OF vital Necessities Is Just the
same. The hasion and the city are
simply convenient organizations thru
which the public may conduct public
business. They are simply the hired
men OF the public. The responsibility
IL net toward then but toward the
homes ana the factories and the com
merce mat snahis thak collection OF
individuals that ~ term the public to
i've and carry On their activities.
Harding insinuaaes that he may
order he ssal miners 10 work and
inasinss thaa they YIN ooey his order.
OF course Mr.. Har6ng may b talking
for effect. He inclinss to that sort OF
conversation but Il u an Indication
that even politicians are beginning to
arouse to . strong undercurrent OF
pubic Impulse and purpose concern
ing strikes that seriously AFFECT an en-
tire people In the disputss OF minor
ity. It Is one Of the straws that indi-
cate the direction Of the wind. Just
what Harding could DO and how far
his order--.f he were to issue such
would 20 IL Of course q proof OF pud-
dins that depends on chewing the