Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-04-19
"Outlaw' Strike Harmful to
Organized Labor, is
Opinion in Wash
ingtOn.
E BONDS DOWN.
President Holds Himself
"Available" for Third
Term Run.
BY J. +. Jones.

NdSllllISlOA, -. ~ &AplAA
the railroad law was enacted by which
the roads were returned to private
ownership, a definite feature of the law
provided for arbitration OF wage dis
putes. There was created under the
law a wage tribunal to be appointed by
the president. In this an en-
tirely orderly procedure was evolved
for the reimbursement of wages Of rail
road workmen.
Since the railroad motherhOods, who
have been in charge of the interests of
their 1000. 900 members, We're parties
to the legislation provided in the Esch-
|Cummins bill, and since the leaders Of
these great brotherhoods have in no
approved Of a strike of railroad
employees, and since they are agreed to
abide by the DEGREES OF the arbitration
board-the origin of the outlaw
strike is difficult, to race.
The president, the director general Of
the railroads and congress used every
precaution to prevent any disturbance
among railroad employees during the
processes of reconstruction of the rail
roads themselves. Therefore a strike OF
wide proportions among railroad en-
ployes during the proposed recon
structiOn of the railroad employees seems
to be inexplainable, particularly IN
view Of the fact that the brotherhood
leaders, and Mr.. Gompers and the
American Federation of labor are
found to be protesting vigorously
against the disobedience of their Own
members.
Organized labor has prided itself up
on its ability to live up to its agree
ments. The leaders Of the br~otherhoods
have doubtless, been entirely conscienr-
Itions in their attempts to play fair with
the railroads and to justify the conf
dence of the American people in their
Ibelief that the railroad men would
abide by their agreement and permit
the settlement of the wage controversy
by the machinery devised for its settle
ment. But now the American people
find that the promise made by the
railroad leaders is not in realty an
agreement, since there is q strike
among railroad men that is not only
la strike against the railroads, but q
strike as well against the duly constitu-
ted leaders of railroad unions. The
chiefs Of the big -Four" br~OtherhOOds
ARE among the most vigorous of all
parties concerned in d%enOuncing the
railroad strike. They feel
and they have made their position
lclear-that organized labor is in great
danger of losing the confidence OF the
American people, and they properly
fear that railroad. employees Organiza.
tons will lose their tremendous power
as a result of such performances among
strikers. Mir. Gompers has pointed out
that the American working man has
gathered the big profits out OF the
structure of organized labor. This is
Undoubtedly a fact. and the selfish in
terests, as well as the ideals of Ameri.
can labor are at stake in a strike
|of this kind than are the interests OF
the railroads or the interests OF the
public, since a strike Of this kind is es-
sentially an outlaw affair having be-
hind it the sinister shadow of social,
political ard industrial disorder. In
such a crisis in their affairs the Ameri-
can wOrkingman who had builded to
better conditions through the powerful
force of organized labor can hardly fail
to turn against the strikers in his own
ranks who are carrying on an almost
meaningless but thoroughly destructive
contest against the railroads. There
other than that Of harm to the cause
of organized labor. This is unfOrtu-
nate since organized labor has gained
strength as well as actual recognition
throughout America in recent years.
Money Goes Up.
The advance in the rate of interest
on United States treasury certificates
of Indebtedness to five and One-quarter
per rent reaches the high water mark
in interest paid by the government. A
few weeks ago four and three-quarter
per cent tax certificates we're offered
by the treasury, but the public would
not buy. While government obligations
have been selling at low interest rates,
commercial rates have been on n basis
of between six and eight per cent in a
large number Of cases.
There has been no end Of keen dis
appointment among holders of Liberty
Bonds, due to the fact that there has
been. Il steady decline in market value
of these government pledges. Now