Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-08-12

mental agencies must give a vigilant eye
to the perfection of life and property, and
maintain hrmness but absolute i'm
Partially This is always the real test,
but If official conduct combines courage
and fairness. our governmental institu-
tons come out of these affairs untarnished
by distrust. This is not an academic OBJ
servaton. II Is tho mere recital OF ex-
perience. Unrest has been reinforced in
no small degree by the great mass of un-
assimilated aliens.
FOREIGN-BORN LABORERS
Attracted by an unprecedented de-
mand for labor. they have come to
our shores by the Thousands. AS
they have become acquainted with the
customs and opportunities of Amer
lean life. thousands OF them have be-
come citizens and are owners of their
own homes. However, the work of as
similation too long was merely auto
matte. one million six hundred thou
sand foreign born in this country can
not read or write our language. our
interest in them in tho main has been
simply as 1aborers, assembled in the
great trade centers, to meet the de-
mand of the hour. without home or
community ties, many have been moro
Of excessive turnover, which has per-
picked manufacturing plants. But this
has not been the worst phase of the
situation. Unfamiliar with law. hav-
ing no understanding of tho principles
Of our government, they have fallen
an easy prey to unpatriotic and de-
signing persons. Public opinion has
had no influence upon them. because
they have been isolated from the cur
rents Of opinion. all due to their not
being able to read or write our Ian
guage It is the duty of the federal
government to stimulate the work of
Americanization on the part of church.
school. community agencies, State gov
ernments and industry itself. In the
past, many industries that have suf-
fered from chronic restlessness have
been the chief contributors to their
own troubles. The foreigner with
European standards Of living was well
coined. but too often no attempt was
made to educate him to domestic ideals
for the simple reason that it adversely
affected the ledger. II has been my OBJ
servation that the man who learns our
language, yields to controlling
public opinion and respects our
laws; besides, in proportion as his
devotion to American life develops, his
interest in the impulsive processes Of rev.
olution dininishes. We must be patient
in the work of assimilation and studious-
ly avoid oppressive measures in the face
of mere evidence of MISUNDERSTANDING.
We have a composite nation. The Almighty
doubtless intended it to be such. We will
not however, develop patriotism unless
we demonstrate the difference between
despotsm and democracy. The neces-
sty for the drastic laws of war days is
not present now, and we should return
at the earliest opportunity to the statu-
tory provisions passed in time Of peace
for the general welfare. There is no con-
dition now that warrants any infringe
ment on the right Of free speech and as
sembly nor on the liberty Of the press. The
greatest measure of individual freedom
consistent with the safety of our insti-
tutions should be given. Excessive regu-
lation causes manifestations that compel
restraint The police power, therefore, is
called to action because the legislative
authority acted unwisely.
ENEMIES OF GOVERNMENT
forbearing policy is not the proper one
for the deliberate enemy of our institu-
tons. He Is of the kind that knows con-
ditions abroad and here. The difference
between autocracy and democracy is we'll
marked in his mind. He is opposed to
government in any form. and he hates
ours because it appeals to those whom
he would convert to his creed. Any policy
of terrorism is fuel to his flames Of
anarchy. Those whom he seeks to arouse,
in time, realize the difference between his
and their mental attitude, so that when
the law lays hand upon his wilful menace
~ hanh nae
plain to them. Official contempt for the
law is a harmful exhibition to our peo-
pie. 1t is difficult to follow the reasoning
Of anyone who would seek to make an is
sue of the question of Acknowledgement.
The executive obligation, both national
and state. on assuming the oath OF Office
is to preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United tates." The
constitution. in its essence, is the license
and limitation given to and placed upon
the law-making body The legislative
branch of government is subjected to the
rule of the majority. The public omcial
who fails to enforce the law. is an enemy.
both to the constitution and to the Ameri-
can principle of majority rule. 1t would
seem quite unnecessary for any candidate
for the presidency to say that he does not
intend to violate his oath of office. Any.
one who is false to that oath is more
unworthy than the law violator himself.
Morals cannot easily be produced by
statute. The writ Of injunction should not
be abused. Intended as safeguard to per-
son and property, 1t could easily by
abuse cease to be the protective deVlce
IL was intended to be.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Capital develops into large units
without violence to public sentiment or
injury to public interest-the same
principle should not be denied to labor.
Collective bargaining through the
means of representatives selected by
the employer and employe, respectively
will be helpful, rather than harmful to
the general interest Besides, there is
no ethical objection that can be raised
to it. We should not, by law. abrdge a
mans right either to labor or to quit
his employment. However, neither la
bor nor capital should at any time or
in any circumstances take action that
would put in jeopardy the public well
fare.
We need a definite and precise state
inent of policy as to what business
man and workingmen may do and may
not do by way of combination and coll
lective action. The law is now so
nebulous that it almost turns upon the
economic predictions of the judge or
jury This does not make for conf
dence in the courts nor respect for the
laws. nor for a healthy activity in pro-
duction and distribution. There surely
will be found ways by which co-opera-
tion may be encouraged without the
destruction of enterprise. The rules
of business should he made more GER
tain so that. on a stable basis men may