Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-21
ANTl-STRIkE
Clause Favored by Sen.
PoindeXter
Declares Failure to Provide Such
Process Of Law viii Mean Civil
War and He~oiution-Paraiy of
Transportation Must Be Guarded
Against

Providence, =. 7. Jan. sD-The So
called auri-srrike clause IN the Cum
minis railroad bill. now in conference
between the houses of Congress. is the
first substantial move 10 solve a prob
lem which has in il the germs Of civil
war and revolution United States Sen
ator Miles Poindexler, an aspirant for
the Republican nomination for Presl-
dent. tonight toid an audience Of busi-
ness men here.
IF it is not solved by law" the SEN
ator said, ST will be solved in blood and
perhaps in the destruction Of our inst
tutions. Il involves the question wneth-
er industrial disputes. the adjustment
Of wages, the terms and conditions of
the employment Of labor III commerce,
and inuustrv where employer and en-
pioye cannot agree. are 10 De adjusted
by the orderly process OF government.
through reason and public opinion rs
officially Expressed, U- by force, terror
and Intimidation.
while it is confined TO those en-
gagged in interstate commerce. il lndi-
rectty affects every industry because
lie transportation. Il Is very likely thai
Congress would have power 10 go much
farther than is proposed by this sec
ton ana 10 prohibit such conspiracy, VI
such acr III pursuance of such cunspira-
cv To hinder the movement of commOdi-
ties II Interstate or foreign commerce
whether the operation Of trains or other
facil ties Of transportation were inter
fered with or not. hui the section 's
narrowly limited 10 hinderlng me opera
ton Of trains or other facilities OF
transportation. And If the principle is
established by the enactment and en-
forcemeut Of this section. the path
will nave been cleared which can De
followed both by the federal govern
rnenf anG by the states as the necessity
therefor may appear II the struggles
of the future.
When the people of the United
States gave Congress power TO reg
ulare commerce they by necessary
irnplication. imposed upon Il the duty
10 protect it The one absolutely
indispensa bic agency of our modern
society is transportation and the
power To preserve II is SYNONYMOUS
with the power TO preserve the gov
eminent ana the nation itself from
destruction.
- .. The paralysis OF trans
portation. bringing cold and hunger
10 the people and deprIving them OF
q means OF livelihood, is az much
the application OF force and coercion
as though physical attack We're made
uppn them. When transportation IS
tied I'D for the purpose Of enforcing
an economic demand, II Is a physical
attack upon the nation.
IF this species OF violence can be
used 10 enforce economic demands il
can be used to Enforce political de-
r1artis and express threats that have
been made. by those IN positions OF
power that il would De used to COM
pei the people 10 purchase the rail-
roads and turn them over To the Of
ficials and employees under wlar Is
known as the Plumb plan. Further
more # this system Of coercion can
be used to control the disposition o,
railroads II can be used To control
the disposition Of all Industries, Of
all property and of the functions of
the government itself. and SO en-
slave the people"