New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-14
Wood Quits His
Tour to Fight
Red Menace
General Feels He May Be
Needed in Chicago in
Possible Coming Crisis,
He Says in Boston Address
Opposes Big Union Idea
Denounces Alien Labor
Leadership in Talk on
Serious Strike Situation

BOSTON. April 13.-General Leon
ard Wood, on account of the serious
ness of the railroad strike situation,
this morning cancelled his speaking en-
gagcments in the East. and tonight
started for his post in command Of the
Ceptral Department of the army in
Chicago.
81 feel That l should be in Chicago
in the possible crisis that is coming"
said the general in his address at the
City Club, in connection with the an
nouncement of his intention to return
to his post of duty. Continuing, he
said:
you arc confronted now by an open
and shut proposition; you cannot pussy
foot it or sidestep it much longer" he
continued "You find that organized
labor has been stable, conservative, but
is now being attacked from within by
what is described as the boring from
ordered labor is now undergoing attack
from the radical element within itself,
and j. is pretty we'll organized at
tack.
Opposes One Big Union Idea
at looks like the one big union idea.
There is no one big union idea going
to go over in this country. This coun-
try is going to be run by Americana,
cost what it may. 1t does not make airy
difference what the cost is. 1t is going
to be run on basis of government
under the Constitution, with due re-
spect for law and order, with rccog-
milton of the supremacy of the law,
the rights of property, the rights of the
individual, the rights of mankind-no
class legisl; pion, no autocracy, either
of wealth, labor or power, but real
democracy and spirit of cooperation
and helpfulness.
81 have had to bump into some rather
ugly strike situations in the Middle
West, and wherever there have been
radicalism and trouble and danger
Gus situation l have always found the
alien Red in control; very seldom an
American leader. We want to get rid
of the alien leader, the professional
agitator. | have found American work
men at least 95 per cent square, square
as die and wanting to run straight,
but we have got to interest ourselves
a little more in these problems.
Indifference the Big Danger
"The danger in America is not so
much from the Red element as it is
from our own Indifference. We dis
do not get out, take our coats off and
get to work on the problems"
General Wood spoke for an absolute
ly square deal" for labor and capital,
urging cooperation rather than legisla-
ton a 5 a solution Of the problem. ''You
cannot put the thing over with club"
he said I'VE have got to approach
the issue ON the basis of absolute fair
ness"
Referring to the Canadian plan Of
having an investigation before strike
is permitted, General Wood said:
"In this way Canada he's built up
sound public opinion. We have not
built up any public opinion here. We
do not get the facts concerning strikes.
The coal strike in Kansas, for instance,
was strike for longer working hours.
eighteen hours a week because there
were no cars to move the coal and no
place to store the coal, and they could
not live on eighteen hours work a
week. That happens to have been the
inside fact in that strike, yet nobody
knew anything about it. The steel
strike was something quite different,
Virginia. We want to build up a sound
public opinion here. Public opinion
rules in this country"
Announces Tour Abandonment
f.a.eral Wood, acting on his own in
1tiative and without suggestion from
the War Department, made the an
Iorlmsnlent concerning his intention to
rssurn 70 Chicago at breakfast ten
dered him at the Boston City Club
He said:
"The situation of growing serious
ness in the country is such that fee
it my duty to give up my leave and re.
turn to my post of command in Chi.
cago. The situation is not one which
allows personal consideration to enter
into the matter in the least"
1t was the intention of General
Wood to speak in several places il
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode
Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania AM
New York City within the next week
He cancelled all of these engagements
The general is now on. a two month 5
leave which was granted him by thu
War Department March 20.
After speaking this evening befor
the Salem Chamber of Commerce h,