Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-27

board of az bitration is not q denial to
any man of his constitutional rights.
He need not enter into the employ
ment unless he desires. Under the
act of congress, if he does enter into
it he does so with his eyes open. and
with the knowledge that he may not
enter into any combination for the
interruption of interstate commerce.;
but that, at any time. if conditions do
not satisfy him, he may quit the en-
ployment 1t simply denies the right
for combination to enforce the de-
mands which would interrupt inter-
state commerce. He is not without a
remedy in that provision is made
for board of arbitration, which
board, we must assume, will decide all
questions with the same fairness as
our courts decide disputed questions
Of law and of fact, Have we not
come to that point in our government
where some such measure is neces-
saly?
The consequences of a nationwide,
effective strike by the brotherhoods
representing the employees of the rail-
roads of the country would be more
disastrous than open rebellion in
arms Not only the business life of
jeopardy, but the lives of the people,
especially those in the cities, would
be in danger. Thousands Of children
in the cities dependent upon transport
tation for their supply of milk would
starve to death.
l am in full sympathy with the
struggle Of the working man, as well
as Of any other man. for a more even
distribution of the worlds goods and
property. Every American citizen
should have the right to work and the
right to such compensation as will
Keep him and his family upon Il good
substantial standard of living, and
will enable him to educate his chill
dren and to have all the necessary
and ordinary enjoyments of life. No
one will deny this; but. at the same
time, ! do not feel that any class of
persons have the right. by reason OF
the fact that he is engaged in a basic
industry, to so combine with all the
others in that industry that these
rights will be denied to all others,
In the opinion of the case of Will
son V. New the supreme court is care
full to point out that the right for
compulsory arbitration exists only in
that class of business which is i'm !
pressed with public duty, and per-
haps goes even further than this and
limits it to the power which congress !
has under the commerce clause of the |
constitution. The people cannot stop !
at this point, even though consti-
tutional amendment is necessary. The
right of the public to demand COM
pulsory arbitration should exist for
every basic industry. Take, for in
stance, the coal mines of the country
In our modern life coal is, or might
be said to be, the basis of all other
industries 1t is necessary to the very
lives of the people. There is no other
fuel at hand that is adequate. If the
coal miners of the United States have
the right and power to absolutely
close this industry, even for few
months only the loss to the country,
both in life and property, would be
almost as great as that caused by the
great world war.
1t seems to me that it is high time
that the people of this country are
awakening to the impending danger
This country was founded upon thel
of representative govern
ment of people to be elected and
selected by a majority of its citizens
If, though fear. this principle is sur
rendered to any class, be it high or
ow, rich or poor, our high-sounding
words about democracy Will become ,
out mockery.
| have the fortune of the personal
acquaintance of several hundred rail-
'oad men of New Mexico. the major I,
ty of whom are good men and good :
,itizens. | do not believe that many :
If them realize the danger to which !;
he attitude of some of their leaders !
$ leading them for as sure as fate !
t they are compelled to stand and /
10 stand for the principle of the right
o strike, as now contended for by !
heir leaders, and pursuant to this \
participate in a nationwide strike that t
hall paralyze the country 1t will \
mean the end of unionism and will {
indo all that they have accomplished 0
or themselves and labor for the past {
hirty years, for the people of the I
United States will not long stand for ,
tyranny of any person or any class.