The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-08-10

into mining OF railroad service
would be an attempt to establish in
voluntary servitude. And I dare to
predict when involuntary service is
attempted by you. then the long
predicted war between labor and
capital will loom up. The Ameri-
can farmer and laborer have come
to realize the hostile attitude OF the
G. o. p. toward them, aud they
realize that the hard times that
now exist is premeditated plan
to bring the farmer and laborer
down to their knees. The blood Of
the American farmer and laborer
Is at a boiling heat. because they
came to the firm conclusion that
their government, or your admins
tration at least. is against them.
pray that Il will not come. yet
feel az liberty to predict that in
your attempt to place American la
Dor under the gun nothing short OF
revolution will happen. ! am
lover Of peace and harmony. yet
am for these striking railway en-
ployees and miners and ] know that
they will put forth every possible
means 10 keep peace In our coun-
try. But these are days which TRY
the very souls OF mems" and | am
hoping that you will be wise enough
to see the dark clouds that are or
the horizon and will change your at
titude so far as 10 remove these
clouds.
81. Cleve Dean.
Chairman Railway Employees
Publicity Association"
In reply President Harding wrote:
"Mr. J. Cleve Dean.
Chairman. Railway Employees
Publicity Association, Chatta-
nooga, Tenn.
Since you speak as Chairman Of
the Railway Employees Publicity
Association and since Il Is exceed
ingly importan. that the Ameri-
can people know precisely the ques-
tions at issue in the present railway
and coal strikes, ! am more than
glad to treat your politically parti-
san references with that contempt
which is felt by every good citizen
in the hour OF deep public con-
cern.
Happily for the American public
everything done and everything said
Dg EONfl AfAdNAlb "
the two strikes is a matter of rec
ord and cannot in any way be dis
torted.
There is no dispute about the
loyal 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 II 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 Railroad Labor
Board or rendered to the workmen
by the mine operators of the coun-
| try.
mo one has attempted or pro-
posed to draft free men into either
the railway or mining service, or
suggested coercion under military
force. The military forces of free
America are never used for such a
purpose. Their service is only that
of preventing lawlessness and viol-
ence.
THAT same unchallenged freedom
which permits you and your associ-
ates to decline to work Is no less
the heritage of the free American
who chooses to accept employment
under the terms proposed. The diff
ference between the two positions
is that the striking railroad work
ers exercise their rights of freedom
in seeking TO hinder the necessary
transportation of the country, not
withstanding the provision made by
law for the consideration of any
just grievance, and the striking
miners seek to prevent the produc-
tion of coal necessary to common
welfare, Notwithstanding the offer
of an agency to make an impartial
settlement while the men who
choose to work in response to the
call OF the country are exercising
their like rights, and at the same
time are making their contribution
TO our common American welfare
The decisions of the Railroad Labor
Board are in compliance with a
mandate of the law-making body of
the United States. Without discuss
ing the decisions at issue. II is fair
to assume that a government agency
Is ever ready to correct an error
which Is made, else government it
self would become unjust. More
over. it is indisputable that there
can be no government unless its
mandates are accepted by the citi-
zenship of the republic. This OBJ
seryatlon relates more particularly
to the railroad situation.
When the mining situation be-
came menaciug, | invited represen-
tatives of the mine workers and the
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 settle
disputes between mine workers and
their employers the federal gov
ernment then voluntarily proposed
the creation OF a national com
mission before which the disputes
might be settled justly, in the light
Of full information and in accord