The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-10-08

never known before, and there would
bricklayer, single painter, or a single
bricklayer. ingle painter, or g. ingle
plasterer idle in this country. There
would be an abundance of work; and
what an encouragement it would be
to the farmers of this country, who
are suffering from low prices, if the
railroad employees who are today pro
pforma threatening the country with a
strike would come down to reasonable
wages!
have for long time thought over
this industrial situation, Mr.. Presi-
dent, and to me it seems that there is
nothing in this country that today SO
retards the industrial revival as the
attitude of union labor throughout
the country in all the trades and en-
Payments, transportation and build
ing trades and in all directions.
The farmer has had to submit to
lower figures. The farmer has been
obliged to sell his products at sac
rltice, compared wiwth wawr prices,
of more than 100 per cent. Farm la
Dor has gone down. In my country,
a year ago last summer, men were
charging from Sc to 81 day to WORK
in the harvest fields and threshing.
Farm labor has gone down to SO o.
81 day, which is a fair wage; but
how is it in reference to the opera
tives of our railroads? How is it in
reference to the mechanics engaged
in our building trades? They have
not come down; and when Judge
Lands the other day made a reason
| able reduction for the building thades
in Chicago-I thought it was very
moderate and very reasonable-yet,
Mr.. President, they protested and
threatened to strike. Under such
| conditions, if they find themselves in
| selves to blame.
| There would not be many idle men
in this country today if union labor
| would come down to reasonable and
moderate figure in conformity with
what is occurring in other lines OF
business and in other directions. I'm
| til we reach a lower level of prices in
connection with union labor, and until
we set more effective service, it is
useless to look for return of pros
perity and a complete revival of the
industries of this country.
I am aware of the fact that may
be stepping on the toes of some Of
these gentlemen who are the leaders
OF labor organizations; but, Mr.. Presi-
dent, l am getting to be an old man.
do not expect to be with you very
| long; and for that reason, If for no
other, I feel at liberty on this occa-
sion to express my honest convictions
trust that the convictions I have ex-
pressed here today may permeate
throughout thu whole country, and
that union labor all over the country
will take heed and listen to them.
We are now threatened with a rail-
road strike. The men have taken a
| vote, and they are posing as ready to
take tn ewhole country by the throat
again, as they were at the time the
Adamson law was passed. Let me
tell you a little incident.
You all know that I was born in
the little, mountain country of Nor
way. 1t is>a poor country, and prac-
tically all the railroads in the coun-
try are owned and operated by the
government. Last winter the men
who work on the railroads concluded
i to have strike there. They laid their
heads together, and undertook to tie
up all the railroads in that country
What happened?
The business men in the cities and
the high officials Of the railroads
managed to operate enough trains in
the country to carry the mails and
bring supplies and provision sto the
cities, so that there was no suffering,
and then they let the strike go on.
The strikers were all the time desiring
to negotiate with the government.
The government said, I'VE will not
negotiate with you until you quit
striking"; and at the end of 14<days
they were glad to lay down their arms
and glad to come back to work ana
glad to resume their duties, as they
did. I venture to say that that that
experience of IA days was such a les
son to them that they will never again
call a strike.
Mr.. President. I am getting tired
of these strike threats. With that
matter in view that came under my
observation, I do not know but that
it would be a good thing for the
country if these railroad men should
start on strike. Let the people Of
this country once for all understand
what these men mean by their strik-
ing. Let the people realize that they
will be deprived of their food supply,
their fuel, and everything else If
these men ever embark on a strike
that leads to such results, 1 venture
the prediction that the American peo-
pie will rise in their might and wipe
| them fro mthe face Of the earth.
We can not tolerate in this country
a government or rule stronger than
the people of the United States We
ccan not tolerate a government within
government. We can not afford to
have any people take our country by
the throat and say. You must do as
we want or we will destroy everything
in this country. We will hold up the
entire transportation system Of the
country and deprive the cities and
| the towns of their fuel, their food
supply and everything else, unless you
do as we want" It is time, Mr..
President, that we taught these men
the lesson that they are not bigger
than tho of