Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-23
A nistrdsted coasrnment.

a nistrustsd covsrnment.
The railroad men have gone back
to work. and this particular strike is
over. But We live In a fools paradise
If we think matters are settled. Wniie
acceding. finally. to the pleadings OF
their National leaders the men
threaten a general countrywide
strike II their demands are not salts
fed by Sept. 2.
This recent strike announces a new
development in our American labor
situation. 1t suggests that thousands
Of the rank and file Of union men are
losing faith in their officials and in
the government. This is sympo-
matte of a condition for which the
only treatment is square dealing and
immediate action. One only fortifies
waning trust by a super-manifesta-
ton of good faith.
The policy which the men have
adopted in striking has been in large
part forced upon them. When the
Adamson law had been passed,
Washington turned calmly to other
things. The railroad pot was al
lowed to stand unmatched on the
fire. AS a result it has just boiled
over. We can lay this quite as much
to the carelessness of the cook as to
what waJ in the pot.
Will our leaders nod over the fire
now? The action Of the men on Sept.
will answer. Should the pot boil
over again on that date. We shall be
in for a mean job. II is much pleas
anter to keep the pot from boiling
over than it is to clean up the mess
afterward.-Bosfon Globe.
1T 1.-THE high cost of living] is the
cause of all the unrest, discomfort.
strikes and business uncertainty in
this country today. 1t is doing more
than that-it is causing distrust of
the government itself"
Walsh of Massachusetts,.
A distrusted government is in a
serious predicament. A nation that
distrusts its government is in more
serious predicament. Governments
exist for the benefit and welfare Of
the people who make up the nation.
II the government in power proves
its ineficiency and lack of policy and
backbone by yielding to the demands
Of a group who apply pressure tn it
early in its history as the railroad
brotherhoods did in 1916, when they
forced the Adamson law through: II
they continue the process with sue
cess each time it is tried: and If the
government does nothing to redeem
itself or the railroads, how high does
it stand in popular estimation? What
confidence do the people have in its
promises and palliatives? How much
are they fooled when administration
leaders and heads of departments try
to shift responsibility to somebody
less clever than themselves in getting
rid Of it?
We Americans are in the habit OF
looking to our government for RELIEF
from undesirable conditions. for a
straight forward and determined pol.
icy in dealing with evils in nationa
life and for real leadership. Lack Of
leadership just now affords the bes
OF opportunity for the growth o.
bolshevistic notions and the attemp1
to foist all sorts Of alleged remedies
on a public that grows willing Il
grasp at any straw that seems te
promise relief. We do not intend te
lose our grip on our own affairs or be
sold out to a favored class Of our OWE
citizens in virtue of their occupation
as railroad men.
Senator Walsh has made a timely
remark and the Globe has hit upon
the same idea simultaneously. These
should spur and sting the government
Into action If nothing else will.