The New York herald., 1920-01-03
Supports Cummins Railway
Bill as Protecting Both Public
and the Worker.
Herald Bureau.
No. f,J0: II street, ". W.,
Washington, ID. c., Friday


him as candidate for the Republican
Presidential nomination, Senator Warner
C. Harding. Ohio's ''favorite son. an
nounced today his attitude toward organ
ICED labor. with special reference TO hi,
vote in favor of the anti-strike provision
Of the Cummins Railroad bill. now pendin,
before the conferrees of the Senate and th,
House. His declaration is accepted as a,
appeal to the general public.
In letter addressed to r. j. Miller. sec
retary Of the Baltimore and Ohio Loca
Federation of Newark, Ohio, Senate,
Harding says that he believes cordially
in rational unionism," but is opposed Il
1.-THE domination of organized labor"
The government has assumed to regulate
the income and operation OF the railroad.
for the benefit of the public, he declare:
in his letter.
Holds Clause Is Fair.
"Is 1t not wholly consistent and fair
then, he asks, that the same govern,
mental authority should prohibit the par.
alysis of the public service, so long as /,
provides competent tribunal TO adjus
all labor grievances and awards to thu
railway employees every just consideration
believe it not only consistent but q
the workmen alike"
The policy OF the federal governmen,
toward organized labor will be equal ir
Importance as an Issue in the Presdentia
campaign with the League of Nations
many politicians believe. Senator Hard
ing is the first avowed Republican candi'
date to enter the national political arena ir
direct opposition to labor's attitude toward
the ant-strike section OF tho pending
railway bills.
The Senator is now on record on the two
main issues of the campaign. He voted ir
the Senate in favor of all of the amend
ments and reservations of the peace treat,
as drafted by the Republican leaders. ano
he voted against the Democratic propose
to ratify the treaty without reservations
Replies to Questions.
Here is Senator Harding's letter.
Permit me to acknowledge your letter
of December "a and to say that an
very glad to make reply because you anc
every other citizen of Ohio have a rien'
to know my reasons for any vote whicf
cast as one of Ohios representatives In
the Senate
you address five specific questions, al
20. why aid you vote in favor Of the
Cumnins Railroad bill?'
"'2 Why did you support the ant1-str1K'
clause in the same BILL!
''S3. Do you think this VIII prs"en
strikes?
90. What is your attitude toward or
"'5. Do you expect organized labor u
support your .,
"Let me omit direct reply to your fifti
question, and say simply and truly ina
wish the support of all citizens. organ
ized or unorganized, who believe me I
be a trustworthy public servant Cuescol
ought to require no answer in Ohio II
my private pursuits as q newspaper puo
Usher, am an employer OF orsanize
labor. having never known a controversy
and I believe most cordially in rationa
unionism. ORGANIZATION and collective
bargaining under wise leadership hav
done more to advance the cause OF labo
than all other agencies combined an
any one who thinks to destroy san
unionism by legislation or otherwise
blind to conditions firmly established an
Is insensible to a public sentiment whic
Is deliberate and abiding. But the al
vancement Of unionism is one thing an
the domination OF organized labor IS quit
ianother. I subscribe to the first and op
pose the latter. ! do not believe IN an
class domination. and the long tight Z
remove the domination Of capital. nov
fairly won. Is lost II labor domination
substituted in its stead.
Approves Cummins BIN.
This brings me to the specific reply I
your inquiries relating to the Cummin
bill and its anti-strike clause. ! voteo 10
the bill because believed II to be the bes
measures presented to the Senate Tor tn
Of the railroad lines 10 thei
owners. / favored the anti-strike claus
because 1t applies to a public servic
under governmental regulation in whic
Congress exercises its power 70 limi
the return on capital invested. fixes rate
at which the public must be served, enact
the conditions under which service mus
be rendered and finally. in the anti-strilS
clause, provides capable tribunal for tn
ad iustment Of all labor grievances so tha
no interruption in transportation need b
apprehended
''In our modern life all the people ar
dependent on railway transportation 10
food, comfort. health, security and tn
necessary materials for productive activ
ity and attending livelihood. 1t has he
come prime necessity. This transporta
tion is a public service and is no longer
speculative private enterprise. II Is no
competitive. except as TO quality Of ser
vice. 1t is limited In profit and the invest
ment comes under governmental restric
tions. Expenditures arc limited tecaus
earnings are limited. All this assumption
In regulation Is designed for the publ
good. Is II not wholly consistent and fai
then that the same governmental authorit
should prohibit the paralysis Of the publ
service so long as 1t provides competen
tribunal to adjust all labor grievances an
awards to railway employees every just cor
sideration? I believe It not only consis
tent but a distinct advance in behalf o
the public and the worlnmen alike.
Must Protect All.
"If the government representing all tn
people cannot guarantee transportatio
service under any and all conditions
fails utterly. If that same government
cannot provide just consideration Of tn
workmen operating the transportation sys
tenn II fails again. 1t ought and must d
both.
1T is far afield from the main question
to talk about enslaving the laboring man
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