The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-04

Washington. D. C.. Asg. 3.-Toi-
ersnce 10 . virtue tao ltttle peac-
ticed IN labor disputes By the
parties directly concerned and By
the public, which suffers inconvea-
ience. hardship or actual los - .
result oe the controversies. yntsm-
perate condemnation 0f oae side ~
the other or b. outsiders b alta
gather too common. Facts are mis-
stated or distorted through PAS
sion. 0pinions are based On pref
udices rather than on informst1en
and sound judgment and coaelu-
sions formed that are premature
and ill-advtsed.
These are statements made By .
man whose profession has brought
him into close contact with the
conflicts between capital and labor
for several years. He went on to
say that one Of the great needs Of
the present time u not only . bet
ter understanding between employ
or and employed but 4 better I'M
Outstanding by the public Of the
problems of industrial relations
In fact, until an enlightened and
sound public opinion has been e.
tablished there Is little hope toI
anything even approximating PR
manent Industrial peace.
Hence it is urged that the citi-
zen who il sufficiently interested
to discuss the railroad strike OF
the coal strike. and to express his
views with respect thereto, should
take pains to inform himself - t.
the essential facts in connection
with these great labor oonnicts
The fact that he has been incon-
venienced BY the dislooation in the
transportation industry does moi
justify the conclusion that eioAel
railway workers or railway man
agements ara wholly At fault MOI
does his finding himself with an
empty coal bin with winter at hand
warrant an off-hand judgment
against either tho miners or the
operators. In any event, damnine
and execrating enc side or the
other will not help him nor any
body else.
Free and easy criticism Of publie
oncials who arc Healing directly
with these controversies 10 another
evil of which complaint is made
as it initiates against the creation
of that intelligent popular senti-
ment that should support thoce in
authority. These oincials are con-
demned for inaction or for what
ever action they may take, and all
this without rime or reason.
Presidents Trying Position.
For example, President Harding's
position with respect to the rail
and coal strikes is especially, din
cult and trying. According to
their personal prejudices people
denounce him for favoring labor OF
capital or for failure to adopt ex-
IRENE measures that appeal to the
individual as highly deairabls and
enicacious. How often is the ex-
preston heard I'D like to b in
Hardings place about "a hours-
I'd show 'em!" And how seldom
have those who indulge in such ex-
pressions thought out ways and
means Of doing what they advocate
or considered all the possible con-
sequences!
Taking over the railroads or the
mines. or making men work
against their will. or putting an
end to lawless outbreaks. are talk
ed about ~ il they were simple
tasks that the president could un-
deFtake and dispose of any morn
ing between appointments with his
cabinet ministers. Settling strikes
is discussed as il 1t could be &C.
complished by executive nat.
Using tho army il advocated As ii
it were a mere matter Of calling
out the police reserves to quell a
near-riot among baseball fans.
Most unreasoning and unreason-
able of all, structures are passed
upon the president that are pre-
Dictated on the assumption that he
is Indifferent and uniformed. As
. matter of fact he could not be
Indifferent if he SO desired and nc
one is in a position to be SO well
informed as he Is. This IL not
only true of Mr.. Harding, but IL
would be true of any man Who &C.
cupied the executive chair.
Taking sides" is characteristic
of the American people. They dc
it in sports, in politics. in religion
and particularly in labor c0ntro-
versies, and there 10 nothing half
hearted in the way they do it
Having espoused a cause or an idea
the average man wants the wide
vida world tn kn0W that he Is