Milford chronicle., 1921-10-21
AN IMPOSSIBLE STRIKE
ance at once

The very railroad employees who have Voteu genera
strike ON Oct 80 must know that their proJects du Az
anv time the complete tying up of the railroad systems "
the United States would outrage; under present CIR
crmstances it would be crime. Through much suelns
ond after manv sacrifices the country is struggling DacA
tn fuller work and brighter hope Yet here 1t mas unreal
of chaos come again-of industrial paralysis cOln
ruin disease, want and starvation Ihe unelnplOSo "o
been subject of anxious national concern but no" VO
600 Of the employed propose to quit work. and TO Iorce
TONS Of millions into dleness thousands of workers
in the great industries have accepted lower wages as
necessary part in the defaton of swollen war Valu' INC
railroad men are talking of plungng the whole peope III
to fear and misery rather than admit the need Oh
ton in their pay The thing seems unacy NO great sU
ever succeeded without the support OF at least part
r,,bc oninion But general railway strike now woulu
from the start meet swift and overwhelming reproDa
ton at means life death for the railway unons' W
clares one leaders of the men, Well II tne issue
raised and pressed, dead against the pubic interest anu
the governing sentiment of the country it Will mean el
death.
That extreme need not come The attitude OF the rail-
way unons-ther giving notice of two Weeks-s an INV
taton to seek adjustment Toward this the President
is discreety moving There is no occasion Ior nl do I
to meet threats with defiance If the employees have even
the semblance of case-hey have case at all for
general strke that must be ruled out from the begnnns
they should have fair hearing. Mr. Harding has hrst
turned agencies established by law TO take cog
nzance of railway disputes the Interstate Commerce COM
and the Railroad Labor Board Iney nave HO
power of compulson the men, But they nave tne
right of recommendation of persuasion of appeal to the
pares in interest and, above ALL of appeal to public Op
ion President is wise and right to seek hrst OF all
Cancellation and peaceful agreement The railway I'M
ions may abandon their position consent to delay to con-
suItaon to an agreed settlement Everybody hopes they
may.
If they do not however no doubt should be left in
their minds of the means that will be resored to in order
tn meet and defeat them President Harding properly be-
gins bv seeking the withdrawal OF the menace OF
general srie but if the unions stubbornly refuse to
listen to his appeals he will have to end by taking lear
out of the book of Lloyd George The British Premier no
tilted the English railway strikers that the whole re-
sources of the Government would be made use of to beat
them That must be done United States if neces
sary Cities and States as well the Federal Govern
ent must let it be known that they will exert every power
to protect public against class endeavorng to make
itself the terrorzng master the Commonwealth And in
every wav available through press, by meetings.
by resolutions of public bodies the railway strikers,
they persist their avowed designs should be given TO
understand that they regarded public enemies to be
brought to bay punished by all the agencies and ser
wants of the peoples will
It should not come to that Yet ought-all public
officials ought-to make ready to do what will be neces
sarv if the worst comes It time to be reasonable and
impartial in dealing with the railway employees but also to
show them that they cannot ntimidate this nation
concatory spirit as Details but the rmest determina-
ton on the main question: should mark the official negot
ations from first hour The general railway strike
ought to be impossible in the attempt if attempted
its success will surely be impossible Americans are not
vet disposed to surrender to minority of minorty-N
Y. Times.