Milford chronicle., 1920-01-16
INnEFENSIBLE


There is Just this difference between the anti-srike
clause the proposed railroad bill Of Senator Cummins
and the threat railroad machnists to on strike
if is enacted: That may not be right; the
other is certainly wrong
There room difference of opinion concerning the
ansrie clause and also various interpretations of
IT, If roads were remain under government man
agement, to pass under government ownership-as
those who oppose the an-strike clause desire-there
could think be little question Of the proprety Of the
clause simply intolerabe for government employees
to strike against the Government for the of coerc
ing it, That thing was tried Boston, and Massachusetts,
registered her judgment it, But even when the roads
are returned to private ownership they will be on
March they will still be subject to degree of govern
regulation, and they Of public utilities
of the Indispensable Importance and it may well be
questioned whether these circumstances will not warrant
the Government in giving the public safeguards
against arbitrary suspension of service upon which
very life of society industry and commerce depends
There must again. be judcious discrimination between
individual and collective striking We may concede the
truth the Presidents dctum, THE right to strike is
invoate" applies to the individual, unbound
by contract. may generally speaking work or
not work. as peases. But that very different thing
from the conspiracy and organization through when
masses Of men, collectively cajoed coerced into
quitting work. in many against their judgment and
desire The Government may consistently recognize the
right the individual spontaneously to resign his job
or to quit as a protest against unsatisfactory con
dtons and the time forbid men to conspre to-
gether induce their fellows thus to quit work Every
body knows the power of great association OF any kind
and the dread that its members have of ncurring the
iwi the reprobation the rdicue of their fell
lows 1t by illegitmate for the Government
to say that such power for interference
Of the greatest and Indispensable public
utility
But while these considerations apply TO the Cummins
proposal its confirmation modification rejection, as
the result may be, there question raised
the threat of the railroad machinsts They
have and served upon Congress, that if
ant-srike clause enacted into law, they will not
submit to it, but will Immediately walk out in a general
strike That is just about as indefensibe a declaration
would been possible for them to make. 1t is
deliberate attempt Congress- by threatening the
country with great calamity. That in itself would be
BAD enough But is than that 1t threat that
III these will become lawbreakers 1t is an advance
lehance of a law Of the United States.
Worst of ALL if possible, is the motive They are not
going to the because impossible to obey it,
they oppressive for any such
The merely say that if occasion ses for strike
hey will strike without regard the law No. But they
ay they will against the law itself against
he right OF Congress it, The will not wait for the
ormuation demands higher wages shorter hours
any such for striking but will strike simply be-
ause Congress has dared to enact law which they dis
efensibe attitude than that spirit disoyal
o the genius of American institutions 6
Such a strike, if it should come, would be much u
trke against the Government as that of the mis-
uided police of Boston. We have little doubt that the
american nation would express itself upon it the same
fleet and the same unmistakable emphasis did
he people of Massachusetts,.