Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-06
THE RIGHT TO WORK.

THE RIGHT TO WORK.
In view OF prevailing conditions in
the fcld OF labor. there is much sig
nihcance In some remarks made by
President Harding In his address TO
the people of his home city. Marion,
Ohio. Tuesday. during their celebra-
ton OF the city's centennial anniver-
sary. AS his address must have been
prepared IN advance. It is evident that
all his references were made with de-
liberation. and with realization of
how they would be received by the
general public. Therefore. It must have
been with special reference 10 the
prevailing labor situation that Prssi-
dent Harding said:
The foremost thought in the
Constitution is tho right to free
dom and the pursuit OF happiness.
Men must be FREQ 20 live and
achieve. Liberty is gone IN
America when any man Is denied
by anybody the right 20 work and
live by that work. Il does not mat
ter who denies.
"A free American has the right
70 labor without any others leave.
II would be no less an abridse-
ment TO deny men 10 bargain COL
lectiveS. Governments cannot
tolerate any cinss or group DON'T
nation through force. II viii be a
sorry day when any group domi-
nation In rejected In our laws.
osvssnnsent md the laws which
government 10 charged with en-
forcing. must he for all the people.
ever aiming AZ the common good"
In thsss few wvrfs President Hard
ing fAys down q sound doctrine. one
that must prevail In this country. no
matter how II may be disputed by
certain interests. II i- that a man
has tho right to work for his living
no matter how his action may inter
fere with the plans OF others. .spe-
cialy those who refuse 70 work. nc
matter what may be their purpose.
In other words: A man has the
same right 10 work as another mar
has 10 refuse TO work.
This doctrine Is resisted. at times b,
violence which Ia horrible In its re
suits, as was recently demonstrate,
h Illinois. And here is where IN,
strong hand Of tho law should b,
sternly interposed IN order 10 protec
the right OF men 10 work IL they 81
will, no matter what objections ma,
BE- raised by other men. General Per
shinx, VINO preceded President Hard
ing I'm addressing the independence
Day celebration at Marion. emphati
caliy presented this matter IN thes
remarks;
Where whole communities
openly sympathize with the ruth
less murder of inoffensive people
earn a livelihood. and where
Wholesale murder goee unpun-
ished. II is imperative that public
opinion should demand that the
strong arm OF the law. under
fearless officials. take positive ao-
ton. Servants of the people on
whom Is imposed the obligation of
law enforcement must foresee i'm
pending danger and take neces-
sary preventive measures or be
regarded as inefficient, criminally
negligent, or worse. II lie time for
all citizens who cherish our right
Of free government TO assert
themselves and cry out against
lawlsssneas and immortality. We
must stand up for prompt en-
forcemsnt OF the law or conceds
that free government Is "A failure"
II Is hoped these emphatic deli
eranoes VIII have due effect II
country has tolerated far too mu,
mob violence In the past There
danger IN surh n sitaattop---uot ON
20 the interests and persons direct
involved. but to the entire count
and all It's citizens.
o----
GOOD NAN In A BAD CAUSE.