Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-07-23

s. HERALD. FRIDAY. Ju
manent. We do not oppose but approve
collective bargaining, because that ts
an outstanding right, but we are un-
alterably insistent that It's exercise
must not destroy the equally sacred
right Of h individual, in his necessary
pursuit of livelihood. Any American
has the right to quit his employment.
so has every American the right to
seek employment. The group must not
endanger the individual. and we mus
discourage groups preying upon one
another. and none shall be allowed to
forget that governments obligations
are alike to all the people.
discourage the losses mt sufferings at
tending Industrial CONFLICT. The strike
against, the government is properly
denied, sfor government service in
wolves none Of the elements of profit
which relate to competitive enterprise.
THERE'S progress In the establishment
OF OFFICIAL revealment of issues and
conditions which lead to conflict, so
that unerring public sentiment may
that concord of purpose. not forced
but inspired by the common veal.
which will give a. regulated public
service the fullest guaranty Of contin-
uity. I am thinking of the railroads.
In modern life they are the very base
Of all our activities and interchanges.
For public protection we have enacted
laws providing for a regulation Of the
charge for service. a Limitation on the
capital invested and a limitation on
capitals earnings. There remains only
competition Of service. on which to
base u hopes for an efficiency and
expansion which meet our modern re-
quirements. The railway workmen
ought to be the best paid and know
the best working conditions In the
world. Theirs is an exceptional respon-
sfbflity. They are not only essential to
the life and health and all productive
activities Of the peoples, but they are
directly responsible for the safety of
travelling millions. The government
which has assumed * much authority
for the public good might we'll stamp
railway employment with the sanctity
of public service and guarantee to the
railway employees that Justice which
voices the American conception of
Righteousness on the one hand. and
assure continuity Of service on the
other.
The importance Of the railway re-
Mobilization Is so obvious that refer
ence seems uncalled for. We are SO
confident that much Of the present-day
insufficiency and inefficiency of trans
portation are due to the whitening
hand OF government operation that we
emphasize anew our opposition to gov
eminent ownership, we want to expe-
dite the PREPARATION. and make sure the
mistake is not repeated. H.
1t is little use to recite the story OF
development. exploitation. government
experiment and it's neglect, govern
ment operation n its failures. The
~inadequacy of trackage and terminal
facilities. the insufficiency Of equip
ment and the inefficiency Of operation
all bear the blighting stamp of gov
ernmental incapacity during federal
operation. The work of rehabilitation
under the restoration Of private own.
ership deserves u best encourage
ment. Billions are needed in new
equipment, not alone to the
ii 6lOWll6 OcIIldIu lOI SSIVlCC, UuL 10 re-
store the extraordinary depreciation
due to the strained service of war
With restricted earnings and with
speculative profits removed, railway
activities have come to the realm OF
conservative and constructive service
and the government which impaired
must play it's part in restoration. Man.
ifestly the eturns must be so gagged
that necessary capital may be enlisted
y ~S rr~ ~, %~~k>~ - - -,~11 -. t.
We have no more pressing problem
A state of inadequate transportation
facilities, mainly chargeable to the
failure Of governmental experiment., is
losing millions to agriculture, it is him
dering industry, it is menacing the
American people with a fuel shortage
little less than 8. peril. 1t emphasizes
Z; the present day problem and suggests
that spirit OF encouragement and as.
relieve such an emergency.
The n compensation amid attend.
ing anxieties is our new and needed
realization Of the vital part ~transporta.
ton plays in the complexities Of mod.
ern life. We are not to think Of rails
alone. but highways from farm to
market. from railway to farm, arteries
Of life-blood to p~resent-day life, the
quickened ways to communication and
the answer or our people to
the motor age. We believe in generous
federal cooperation in construction,
linked with assurances Of maintenance
that will put an end to criminal waste
of public funds on the one hand and
give a guaranty Of upkept highways on
the other.
Water transportation is inseparably
linked with adequacy Of facilities, and
we favor American eminence on the
Hseas. the, practical development Of in
land waterways, the up-building and
coordination of all to make them
equal to and ready for every call OF
developing and widening American
commerce. I like that recommital oi
thoughts Of America first which pledg-
es the Panama canal, an American
creation, to the free use of American
shipping. 1t will add to the American
reawakening.
One can not speak of industry and
commerce. and the transportation on
which they are dependent without an
earnest thought of the abnormal cost
of living and the problems in it's wake.
It is easy to inveigh, but that avails
nothing. And it is far too serious ia
dismiss with flaming but futile prom
Use. d..
EIGHT years ago. in times of a
the Democratic party made it an is
sue, and when clothed with power that