The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-22

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our economic system. and TO commi:
us to the colossal tragedy which has
both destroyed all freedom and made
Russia impotent. This movement Is
not TO be halted in throtsled liberties,
1 We must net abridge the freedom 81
speech, the freedom of press, or the
freedom OF assembly, because there
is no promise in repression These
liberties are as sacred as the freedom,
of religious belief, as inviolable as
THE rights of life and the pursuit OF
happiness We do hold to the right
TO crush sedition, to stife a menacing
contempt for law, to stamp out a
peril 10 the safety OF the republic or
its people, when emergency calls.
because security and the majesty of
the law are the first essentials Of
liberty He who threatens destruc-
ton OF the government by force or
faunts his contempt for lawful
authority, ceases to be loyal citizen
and forfeits his rights 10 the freedom
of the republic
Let it be said 10 ali OF Aemrica that
our plan Of popular government con-
templates such orderly changes as
the crystallized intelligence Of the
! majority of our people think best
There can be no modification OF this
! underlying rule but no majority shall
abridge the rights of minority. Men
have right TO question our system
in fullest freedom, but they must al
WAYS remember that the rights OF
freedom impose the obligations which
maintain it. Our policy is not OF re
preston, but we make appeal today
Ito American intelligence and patriot
ism. when the republic is menaced
from within, just as we trusted
American patriotism when our rights
were threatened from without
We call on all America for steadi-
ness, so that we may proceed delio'
erately to the readjustment which
concerns all the people. Our party
platform fairly expresses the con,
science of republicans on industrial
relations No party is Indifferent TO
the welfare of the wage-earner. To
us his good fortune is OF deepest con-
Germ. and we seek to make that good
fortune permanent We do not op-
pose but approve collective bargain
ing. because that is an outstanding
right. but we are unaiterably insist
ent that its exercise must not destroy
the equally sacred right of the indi-
yidual in his necessary pursuit OF
livelihood. ANY American has the
right to quit his employment. SO mas
every American the right to seeh
employment. The group must not
endanger the individual, and we must
discourage groups preying upon one
another. and none shall be allowed
IN forget that governments obliga
lions are alike TO all the people.
/ Industrial Conflict
I hope we may do more than mere
w discourage the losses and suffer
iings attending industrial conflict
The strike against the government i
properly denied, for government serV
ice involves none of the elements o.
profit which relate to competitive
enterprise. There is progress in the
establishment of official reyeaimen,
of issues and conditions which leao
to conflict, so that unerring pubils
sentiment may speed Inc adjustment
but I hope for that concord OF pur
pose not forced, but inspired by the
cou,on veal, which will give regu
lated public service the fullest guar
anty of continuity. ! am thinking Oh
the railroads. In modern life they
are the very base of all our activities
and interchanges For public protec
ton we have enacted laws proTldms
for a regulation Of the charge FOL
service. a Limitation on the capital
invested and Limitation on capital
earnings. There remains only com
petition of service, on which to Dase
our hopes for an efficiency and ex
pansion which meet our modern re
ouirements. The railway workmen
ought to be the best paid and know
the best working conditions in the
world. Theirs is an exceptional re
sponsibility. They are not only es-
sential to the life and health and all
productive activities Of the people
but they are directly responsible for
the safety OF travelling millions the
government which has assumed sc
much authority for the public good
might well stamp railway employ
nent with the sanctity Of public serT'
ice and guarantee to the railway EN-
ployes that justice which voices the
American conception of Righteousness
ON the one hand and assure CONT
unity OF service on the other.
|; The importance of the railway re
jhabilitztion is so obvious that refer
i,ence seems uncalled for. We are sc
confident that much Of the present
day insufticiency and inefficiency OF
Transportation are due to the w1ther
ing hand of government operation
that we emphasize anew our opposi
ton to government ownership; we
want to expedite the reparation and
make sure the mistake is not re
peated-
It is little use to recite the story
Of development, exploitation, govern
rnent experiment and its neglect
government operation and its fail
ures. The inadequacy of trackage
and terminal facilities, the insuffi'
cheney OF equipment and the ineifi
cheney Of operation-aIl bear the
blighting stamp Of governmental in
CAPACITY during federal operation
The work of rehabilitation under the
restoration Of private ownership de
serves our best encouragement. Bill
Iiryns are needed in new equipment