Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-27
WOULD HAVE NO TlE-UP

The outlook publishes today let
bet written to the editor, DR.. Lyman
Abbott, under date of Sept. 2, 1916
by Theodore Roosevelt, in which he
has something to say respecting the
threatened strike, something closely
applicable to the present situation.
"Now a word as to the action of
Wilson in the railroad strike matter"
he writes. Il had prepared an inter-
view to give out and read it to Gibson
Gardner, and then, on talking it over
with him and two or three others,
came to the conclusion that 1t would
do no good and might embarrass
Hughes and might also interfere with
Wilson and yet without accomplish
ing anything myself. In case of doubt
as whether to speak or remain silent
it is better to be silent, so l kept 81
lence.
But I feel very deeply and very
Indignantly at what Mr.. Wilson has
done. / think it Is as foolish and as
wicked to back any labor union which
is wrong as to back any great cor
poration which is wrong. 1t makes
no difference to the state whether we
suffer from a White terror or Red
terror: whether the tyranny is that
of the ministers of Louis XIV or that
of Robespierre, Danton and Marat.
Il have q right to say what Wilson
should do, because l would ask him
to 10 thor 7 did at the
time of the anthracite coal strike.
Then the mine owners said there was
nothing to arbitrate. got the con-
sent of a commission, with Grover
Cleveland at the head, to serve and
arranged for the United States army
to run the mines if there was any de-
lay in accepting the arbitration. In
such cases the three parties in inter-
est are, one, the property owners;
two, the laborers; three, the public;
and the President should act pri-
mariIy as the representative of the
public, of the people of this nation as
a whole; for this is a national ques-
ton.
Here 7 should tell the railroad
owners and the heads Of the brother
hood that / would appoint commits
sion which would have included men
like Raymond Robbins and Patrick
Morrissey, and that every question,
including the eight-hour law ques-
ton, without reservation would be
put before that commission, and that
| would tolerate no action by Con-
gress in advance of the report of that
commission, and that / would toler-
ate no tie-up of the transportation
systems of the country, and that
would use the entire armed forces of
the country, If necessary, to run the
railroads pending the decision of the
commission.
Il would have also stated that I
would see that the commission had
the power to interpret and enforce
its DEGREES so that the men need
have no fear that the railroad man.
'agers and owners would twist that
arbitration so as to bear against
them. would also have had the COM
mission look into the whole question
of rates which must necessarily be
considered in connection with the
question of wages and of interest
charges and of salaries to managers.
AS an incident to this it would be
necessary to look into the question Of
capitalization. do not believe there
should be any attempt TO upset or
penalize over-cap italiZation which
occurred number of years ago: but,
without attempting to draw an eN
act line, l believe that any cases of
over capitalization in the last few
years should be severely penalized;
for all the public have had full notice