The daily morning oasis. [volume] (Nogales, Ariz.) 1917-1920, 1920-08-31
EDITORIALS.
RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC

"Have the Public Any Rights?" is the suggestion
n recent magazine article; and after devcting
deal of space to discussion the article winds up with
the conclusion that practically such rights as accrue
to the public In many instances not enioved be-
cause OF non-uses The inevitable losses inflicted
upon the general public in labor troubles is cited as
an instance in which capital upon one side and labor
upon the other engage life and death struggles to
establish the desires of either with heavy losses to
both-losses that may be computed and visalized
in figures; but these figures are frequently small in
'nmpari on tn those sustained Nv the community at
large account Of the clash which cannot bbe COM
puted.
AS an example, strike Of raroaders can be
measured so far as are concerned the men and the
company. The men lose a certain, stated number
OF days work, at known rates cf wages, the aggre-
gate of which can be ascertained and readilvput
down in figures While not so simple computation
the losses OF the railway companies can be computed
also. But there IS way to reach and collect data
from which can be computed losses of the general
public through suspension of traffic during the pc
Rod involved. Yet that there is such loss goes
without saying; and there is indefinable feeling
N the community at large that ceeds the entire los
ses OF the corterdro forces That the rights Cf the
public are violated in that part15lac contensor and
the theory ie adV"""ed that protection should be Civ
IN again. such violation
But conceding that right, and the need of such
protection: How is protection assured? Shall the
men be compelled to yield their right to quit work?
That would at once complete denial of redress for
grievances against which they rebel. Shall tie COM
panies be compelled to yield to the demands of the
strikers! That would take from capital the light
to control and regulate its own operation. Even in
the latter alternative the public suffer in he end
Is not the raise in railway rates taking effect this
time just such an instance? The men have been
granted increase in wages It was lust and
R1t IN i1x,-o1,c
advance freight fares. In that way the burden is
passed along to the general public Evasion Of this
latter shift of burden seems impossible But it is
very natural reflection an inquiry that is put when
we are asked: "Have the Public No Rights"
Then the same question arises when an issue of
chat kind is precpitated and the community resorts
to force to rid itself of disturbing element as was
the case at Bisbee few years ago, when zoe men
were rounded up and expelled from the state AS
between the striking miners and the companies did
not the public at large have rights that were ignored
and violated by both sides in the controversy? By
expeling TIE strikers the community resumed it's
right to be immune from loss Oil account of dsaer
,ment between employers and workers. But the
law was violated; and in an effort to bring to the
bar OF JllStie known vioators Ct the law the public
fra.ll'3 was drained of many thousands of collars
expendc! ~ turtle effort to convict while hundreds
OF citizens dragged to the county seat at great
loss and inconvenience to determine their eligibility
to serve as Jurors in trial of that case There were
hundreds of men subject to jury duty without the
leas interest in that srke it's results who were tax
en- away from their homes and ordinary avocatons
IN an effort to get jury to try the case which turn
ed mstr1al; while every taxpayer in Cochise county
contributed to the COST surely in such lights il is
natural inquiry whether the public have any rights
1t may be right that the pubic be protected from
impositons like that which has arisen from the Bis
bee depcrtations but how is such right to be recog
nzed and protected? In fact when it to discus
len Of ouch shects mer travel in circle anG neyer