Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-27
uR0fH WHICH KING ?

Inc president OF the CnlleO SlateS
brands the coal strike as a moral and
legal wrong against the country and
announces his intention to protect the
homes and industries Of this country
against II.
The presidents language is appar-
emily a straight declaration that the
coal strike will be considered by the
present head OF government es an
overt act against the people OF the
United States. It IS, ~ effect notice
that the strike will be considered oy
him as wrong to be suppressed and
that the government and the admin
istration will fight It. If the president
means what he says this time that is
what It means. It is the only way his
statement can be read.
II the coal strike is q moral wrong
head Of a brotherhood that the engi-
necrs and firenen viii strike at once,
if anti strike legislation is enacted
denying the right OF those employed in
ira deportation and other public utli-
tiles the right to declare a strike upon
any grievance they may have or may
imagine they have, must fall under the
same ban. II 1t Is illegally and morally
wrong to shut the mines at the onset
Of winter and freezing weather then it
is equally Illegal and morally vicious
to prevent the transportation of coal
from the mines to the homes and the
industries.
Just how the president intends to go
about a campaign against the coal
strike Ia to be guessed at The man
ner in which the steel strike has BEEN
policed suggests, however, that ne will
meet force with stronger and better
organized force. 1t suggests that the
mines Will be kept open and that men
will work in them under the protection
OF soldiers if necessary.
With the president stating an u1-
qualified position upon the strike, with
the declaration from a high officia! OF
the mine workers Of this state that the
presidents statement win be given nc
attention by the strike leaders, with
the head Of the brotherhood Of firemen
and engineers proclaimins in advance
his brotherhood will not observe a law
that shall be made by congress and
signed by the president of the United
States and the stale threat Of "revolu.
ton revived, the outlook seems to be
| call for showdown II 1t goes tc
that extent there is only one end te
| the fight; the strikes will be defeated
and organized labor VIII lose much OF
the human sympathy and sincere ap-
prevail 1t has earned thru long years
For the country by an immense ma.
jority Is against such strikes. the wis
dom and wise leadership Of organized
labor decries them and, as individuals
the sturdy honesty of the average mar
| who works with his haIds and hi,
brain, VINO builds his own home ant
Owns it and sends his children Il
school well clad from TIC results Of hi
thrift and labor, those men condemn
such strikes. That being true sucl
strikes will lose out in the long run.
There's a reason A contest between
capital and labor Is one thing. A
strike that involves the vast interest,
Of all America, that threatens starva.
ton to thousands and denies heat t.
homes and milk to starving babies IL
not fight between capital and labo
by any means but campaign Of in
dustriA and political schrecklekeit
The minor right that may be the ker
mel of the strike is lost sight Of ant
smothered by the greater wrong. Tn
public sympathizes and assists ap
Epressed labor because os the human in
stinct against oppression. II viii lin
W against oppressive demands urge
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