Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-22

impotent. This movement is not to be
halted in throttled liberties.
We must not abridge the freedom OF
speech, the freedom OF press or the
freedom Of assembly, because there Is
no promise in repression. These lib, :.
critics are as sacred as the freedom OF
religious belief. as inviolable as the
rights OF life and the pursuit OF hnppi-
ness. We do hold to the right to crush
sedtion, to stifc a menacing contempt
for law, to stamp out peril to the
safety Of the republic or its people
when emergency calls, because security
and the majesty of the law are the nrst
essentials OF liberty.
He who threatens destruction OF the
government by force or finunts his con-
tempt for lawful authority ceases to be
loyal citizen and forfeits his rights TO
the freedom Of the republic.
Upholds Minority Rights
Let it be said to all Of America that
our plan of popular government centem-
plates such orderly changes as the .crys,.
tallized 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 oil a
minority.
Men have right to question our sys q.
tenn in fullest freedom. but they must
always remember that the rights OF
freedom impose the obligations which
maintain It.. Our policy Is not OF re
preston, but we make appeal today to
American intelligence and patriotism
when the republic is meuaced from
within. just as we trusted American
patriotism when our rights were threat
ened from without.
We call on all America for steadi
ness, so that we may proceed dcliber
ately to the readjustment which con
Germs all the people. Our party plat
form fairly expresses the conscience o'
Republicans on industrial relations. NJ
party is Indifferent TO the welfare o.
the wage Garner. To us his good for
tune Is of deepest concern. and we seel
to make that good fortune permanent.
Approves Collective Bargaining
We do not oppose but approve col
lective bargaining, because that Is al
outstanding right, but we are unaltcr
ably insistent that it's exercise mus
not destroy the equally sacred right o
the individual in his necessary pursui
Of livelihood. Any American has tn
right to quit his employment. So ha
every American the right to seek en-
ployment.
The group must not endanger tn
| individual. and we must discour0g
| groups preyIng upon one another, an
none shall be allowed to forget tina
government obligations are alike to a
the people.
| hope we may do more than merel
discourage the losses and sufferings at
| tending industrial conflict. The strik
against the government is properly de
MED, for government service involve
none of the elements of profit whic
relate to competitive enterprise. Their
is progress In the establishment of of
fetal revealmcnt Of issues and condi
tions which lead to conflict. so that un
erring public sentiment may speed tn
adjustment, but hope for that concor
Of purpose, not forced but inspired b
the common veal, which will give reg
ulated public service the fullest guar
anty of continuity.
am thinking Of the railroads. l
modern life they are the very base G
all our activities and interchanges. Fo
public protection We have enacted law
providing for a regulation Of the charS
for service, limitation on the capitf
invested and limitation on capital
earnings. There remains only compe
tition of service on which to base ou
hopes for an efficiency and expansio
which meet our modern requirements.
Good Pay for Rail Workers
The railway workmen ought to be til
best paid and know the best workin
conditions in the world. Theirs IL q
exceptional responsibility. They are NJ
only essential to the life and health an
all productive activities OF the peopl
but they are directly responsible for Il
safety of travelling millions.
The government, which has assume
so much authority for the public goot
might well stamp railway employInel
with the sanctty Of public service ar
guarantee TO the railway employees tn,
justice which voices the American cor
, ception OF righteousness on the oil
hand, and assure continuity of servi
on the other.
, The importance of the railway n
habilitation is so obvious that referen
seems uncalled for. We are so cor
ident that much Of the present day II
sufficiency and ineflcienCy of transpo
; tation are due to the withering hand
! government operation that we emphi
size anew our opposition to governme
p ownership. We want to expedite {
reparation and make sure the mistake
, not repeated.
: 1t is little use to recite the story
r development, exploitation. governme
experiment and its neglect, goyernme
operation and its failures. The inod
z quacy of trackage and terminal facil
ties, the insuthcienCy of equipment a.
e the inethciency OF operation-all be
the blighting stamp of governmental /
e capacity during federal operation.
Rehabilitation OF Railroads
= The work of rehabilitation under t
O restoration of private ownership d
4 serves our best encouragement. Is
:. lions are needed in new equipment, 7
o alone TO meet the growing demand
service, but 10 restore the extraordina
. depreciation due to the strained serv
i of war. With restricted earnings q
: with speculative profits removed, ra
} way activities have come to the rea
Il Of conservative and constructive servi
and the government which impair
U must play its part in restoration.
II Manifestly the returns must be
gauged that necessary capital may
enlisted, and we must foster as well
o restrain.
We have no more pressing probe
c 4 state of inadequate transportation
It cilities, mainly chargeable to the fa
a ure OF governmental experiment, Is i
o ing millions to agriculture, it is hind
e ing industry, 1t is menacins the AM
}, ican people with a fuel shortage lii
n less than a peril. 1t emphasizes
d present day problem and suggests Il
spirit of encouragement and assistal
o which commits all America 20 reli
sunb m emar0ancy