Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-27
lIarding's Reply
In resnonse the President wired ::

WHITE House,
July -. 1922.
"Mr. J. Cleve Dean, chairman Of
Railway Employees Publicity Associa-
ton. Chattanooga, Tenn. :.
Since YOU speak MS chairman Of
the Railway Employees Publicity AS
sociation and, since it is exceedingly
important that the American people
know precisely the questions at issue
In the present railway and coal strikes,
! am more than glad 10 answer your
telegram. though l can only treat your
politically partisan references with that
contempt which is felt by every good
citizen in the hour of deep public CON
Germ. Happily for the American pubic,
everything done and everything SAID oy
. Government authority relating 70 the
two strikes is matter Of record and
cannot in any way be distorted.
. "Thcre is no dispute about tho
loval American citizenship Of the men
on strike. nor will any one question that
many Of them gave everything that men
can Give for the service Of this country
in the World War. Nor is it disputed
that the men on strike are exercising
their constitutional and lawful rights.
under existing statutes. in declining
TO work under the terms decided by
the Railrond Labor Board or rendered
70 the workmen by the mine. opera
tors Of the country. No one has at
tempted or proposed TO draft tre" mon
into either the railway or mining serv-
ice or suggested coercion under military
force. The military forces Of free
America are never used for such
purpose. Their service IS only that of
preventing lawlessness and violence.
Protection for Men at Work
"Tha, same unchalIcnged freedom
which permits you and your associates
TO decline 70 work is no less the herit-
age of the free American who chooses
70 accept employment under the terms
proposed The difference between the
two positions i that the striking rail.
road workers exercise their rights OF
freedom IN seeking 10 hinder the neces-
sary transportation Of the country,
Notwithstanding the provision made By
law for the consideration Of any just
grievance: and the striking miners seek
to prevent the production Of coal neces-
sary TO common welfare, notwithstand-
ing the offer Of an agency TO make an
impartial settlement. while the men
who chose 10 work in response to the
call Of the countrY are exercising thelt
like rights and nt the same time are
making their contribution to our COM
mon American welfare.
"The decisions Of the Railroad Labor
Board are in compliance with a man
date Of the law making body OF the
United States. Without discussing the
decisions at issue. II Is fair TO assume
that a Government agency Is ever ready
to correct an error which - made. else
Government itself would become unjust.
Moreover, il is indlsputable that there
can be no government unless its man
dates are accepted by the citizenship
Of the republic. This observation re-
lates more particularly 10 the railroad
situation.
Sought Industrial Peace
"When the mining situation became
menacing I invited representatives OF
the mine workers and 'he operators TO
conference. They came together,
they were advised as to the call Of
common welfare. yet in eight days Of
opportunity no progress was made. In
the absence of any tribunal authorized
TO Pttle disputes between mine workers
and their employers the Federal Gov
eminent then voluntarily proposed the
creation of n national commission be-
fore which the disputes may be settled
Justly in the light Of full information
and in accordance with the best expires
sions of our modern civilization. In
stead Of contemplating the resort TO
force, It anticipated the very opposite
industrial peace with justice 70 every
man concerned. Instead of aiming at
"involuntary serviture,' to which YOU
inexcusably refer. the Government
asked the mine workers to resume their
activities. in response 10 a manifest
public need, at precisely the came wages
and under precisely the same working
conditions as those under which they
had been working contentedly for the
last two years.
"Those who spoke for the mine
workers refused such proposal.
There is no dispute of the right to re-
fuse. Since they declined TO respond
and, since II is believed there are
enough men who love this country and
cherish its security, and believe in serv-
ing the common welfare, to come to the
relief of the mining situation, and avoid
suffering, privatiOn and paralysis,
asked the Governors of the coal mining
States TO invite mine operators and mine
workers TO resume their activities. and
to promise that to which every man is
entitled, namely, protection in his law
ftil pursuits This protection applies
alike TO the men on strike who observe
the law and make no lawless interfer
ence with the men at work, and to the
men who are lawfully at work and en- =
titled TO protection by every agency
q Government in that work.
s'If you mean to challenge the right
\ e1sness Of free men TO be protected IN
IAA NIL