The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-10-15

that they seem to have imbbed the
thought that the government exists
solely for their benefit.
For the first time in the history
of this nation Congress has set up a
privileged class and has granted it
extraordinary privileges and subsid-
ly must be an incentive for new and
more exorbitant demands from rail-
road managers. They not without
reason imagine that they are greater
than the government itself.
The arrogance of Mr.. Thom's re-
cent demand directs attention to the
need of an awakened public opinion
and recasting of views concerning
our policy toward the railroads. Priv
ate management must of necessity
rely more and more upon govern
ment help. If the government is to
responsible for the needs of the
roads, it should also be responsible
for their management. The role of
paymaster and money lender is not
one that our people will long toll
crate.
Maligning the Government
y
their votes for the ubiquitous rail
road bill by declaring they sought
to free them from "the paralyzing
hand of the government" make up
the most dangerous element in our
society. They are seeking to under
mine and destroy confidence in the
government. They are just as guilty
of disloyalty as were any of the men
who have been deported because they
attacked the institutions of our gov
eminent
1t is dangerous game these men
are playing. They are putting into
the thoughts of millions of men and
women more than a suspicion that
there is something inherently weak
and vicious in our government They
frankly say that is is not to be
trusted Senator Harding declares
without the slightest reservation that
he wants the government to have
just as little as possible to do with
industry and commerce. It's "influ-
ence is blighting" he says, and what
ever it touches it destroys"
1t apparently does not occur to
these men that our government is
really the people, and that it has
stood some rather severe tests dur
ing the last century and a half.
1t accomplished during the war re-
suits that were not obtainable by So
called private initiative 1t rescued
the railroads from complete disaster.
1T mined coal and increased food pro-
duction. 1t financed the national
needs and it supplied funds for pri-
vate industry. 1t did practically
everything that was necessary to be
done during time of great emery
ency.
And yet time-serving politicians,
who are loyal to big business, and
who see in government an oppor-
tunlty to advance their own interests
as well as those of their private en-
ployers, would have US believe that
government is something apart from
the people, that it is sinister force
within us that must be tolerated, but
not encouraged.
The eject of this studied misrepre-
sentation and maligning of the gov-
eminent will bear its legitimate fruit.
Senator Harding and those who speak
for and after him are sowing the
wind, and they will reap the whirl-
wind. Respect for government is alb
solutely essential if our institutions
are to be preserved. There is not
today in this country a handful of
men who do not revere our govern
ment. If they have any criticism, it
is of administration.
No man who has such small respect
for government should be permitted
to have any part in it. If a soap
box orator would make the speeches
that are being made by the railroad
group of Senators and Congressman
there would be a demand for his de-
portation. Hundreds of men are to-
day languishing in Jail for saying
less iniuriouS thinus