Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-07
BAN AGAINST STRIKES,
CONGRESS PROGRAM
National Lawmakers Determined to Write
Inhibition Into Legislation Return
ing Railroads.


STRONG OPPOSITION a struggle to
TO BE EXPECTED. carry out this
principle in
Legislation. The railroad men are ex-
pected to resist it. The right to
strike has been recognized in some
laws, particularly in certain pro-
visions of the Clayton ac:.
Those laws should be modified and
strikes of employees on railroads en-
gagged in interstate commerce should
be forbidden" declared Senator Rob-
inson. in his statement, speaking for
the subcommittee.
Congressman are getting ready for
the struggle. Some of them may be
expected, it is said. to take the side
of radical DIRECTORS to the prohibit
ton. but they will be in small mi
ment at the Capitol is tina. the advo-
Gates of strikes of the character under
discussion are to come to clinches
with the adverse public sentiment of
the country. believed by the majority
of congressman to be overwhelming.
Senator Cummins, republican, chair
man of the committee having the bill in
IN a G, told
STRIKE NO LONGER the Senate that
THE ONLY WAY. the committee
was ma t.
nous in its recommendations of this
legislation.
I'VE, have reached that stage of de-
velopment and civilization in our
country" said Senator Cummins, 'in
which the. lives and health and wei
fare of all the people of the country
depend upon the continuous, the con-
slant, the regular interchange of
between communities and
persons. Only two or three weeks. in
many populations. lie between plenty
and starvation. All the considerations
of modern life depend upon and they
demand that the transportation. of
this country shall be carried on free
from obstruction of that character. j.
Il have always regarded the strike
as legitimate and invaluable weap-
on as between employer and en-
ploye. 1 have looked upon it as the
only weapon that could be employed
by the laboring man in order to se-
cure that justice which is his due.
But when we advance to the point at
which the cover nment under takes to
Ak his wages in the event Of dispute,
when we advance to the point where
we authorize a government tribunal
to enter a decree with regard to the
justice of the particular matter. there
is no longer room for the tnterrup-
ton of strike or combination
among men of any kind. whether en-
ployers or employees. to hinder, delay,
or restrain the movement Of COM
merce."
Senator Cummins and Senator Rob-
inson each pointed out the distinct
49, ad vance
RIGHT OF APPEAL proposed
SAFEGUARDS WORKERS. to b 9
made in
the relations between employer and
employe in the provision which gives
the employe right of appeal to the
government of the United States for
his rights, and to endow a govern
mental agency with power to decide
the issue. the employee having repre-
sentatien on the deciding board and
on the intermediary arbitration COM
mittee. The only thing the govern
ment. speaking for the mass of the
people, insists upon will be that there
shall be no paralysis Of transportation
pending the decision and that the
action Of the Anal authority shall be
decisive Of the issue.
Soon the league of nations contro-
versy and the peace treaty will be
out of the way.
RAILROAD ISSUE President Wilson
MAY GO OVER. has assured the
country that,
with this done. the question of the
high cost of living will be more read
lily solved. The one big issue then be-
fore Congress will be the disposal of
the railroads, now under government
operation, and the collateral questions
involved.
1t is possible that consideration OF
the railroad bill may run over into the
REGULAR session beginning in Deem
Der. But the questions involved will be
talked about constantly meanwhile
and will form the next great national
issue in Congress.