Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-01

Washington. D. c.. July 29.-There
are signs that the average citizen OF
the United States has grown more than
a bit weary of the continual conflict be-
tween capital and labor and wants
something done about it. Like the nc
tional colonel from the far west. the
average citizen ''can be pushed just SO
far" and it would seem that his limit
has been reached.
Here are q few of the high spots 10
industrial developments of the last tive
or six months that are %arOusing him
to the necessity of action:
A coal strike that jeopardizes the
interests and welfare of every man,
woman and child in the country; a rail-
road strike that threatens to tie up
or cripple the transportation industry
that is as vital to the nation as the
c~irculatory system is to the human
body; in New England almost total
paralysis Of the textile industry; IN
West Virginia scores Of men have been
on trial or under indictment for treason
and murder as a result of the civil war
that was the f~ruition Of a conflict be-
tween union miners and a%nti-union OPP
erators-a conflict no nearer settle
ment now than it was when it begun;
in Chicago, hundreds of union officials
and other labor leaders have been ar
rested for melting or completely IN
riOtOus and anarchistic demonstrations
growing out of a controversy IN the
building trades; in various states and
Federal circuits the courts are clut-
tered up with injunction suits and ac-
lions for damages growing out of labor
controversies of one kind or another;
in Washington the supreme court has
said for a second time that a law OF
the congress aimed at the evil OF child
labor is unconstitutional and the pres
ident and his advisers have had fully
two-thirds of their time taken up with
various phases Of the problem of how
to restore industrial peace; and.
throughout the country wherever work
ers come together. there are heard
caustic complaints and criticisms. ON
nous mutterings and sinister threats.
Evidently there is something funda-
tween capital and labor. just what
hat something is may be debatable.
but there is q substantial unanimity Of
opinion TO the effect that the only
remedy lies in the assertion of govern
mental authority in the public interest.
This means regulation, which will be
both by labor leaders and by
most representatives of capital in the
employing relation.
Anti Strike Law Proposed
There are those who urge that the
initial step in this direction should be
an anti-strike law-one with teeth in
it. The objection to such a law is
1T cannot be enforced. As long
as labor is free, men cannot be COM
PEELED TO work against their will. If
they are determined. Jail holds no ter
rors for them. If they are sufficient
in numbers there would not be enough
jails in the country to hold them and
an army of World War size would be
required to round them up and herd
them in stockades or detention camps.
An anti-strike law. to be effective,
must be enforceable in the improbable
but possible situation where all the
workers in every community and in all
industries had gone on strike.
In any event. what kind of service
is to be expected from men compelled
% work against their will. if there could
be such compulsion! Labor to be
and productive must be free of
coercion in any form. and the wise en-
recognizes this and would not
have workers in his plant who were not |
of their own volition.
To the suggestion that the anti-strike
be made applicable only TO public
and basic industries and to
employees in the public service the re-
ply is made that such legislation would
be class legislation of an especially
Objectionable kind. Inevitably it would
END to create either a favored class
,r an oppressed class of workers. and
would drive workers either toward or
AWAY from such employments. Elk
who grow grey over the prob
en- Of labor turnover and workers who
ire always looking for a better job
will get the force of this objection.
But if strikes and lockouts are to