The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-19
Government
Must
Be Upheld
president HARDING
Chief Executive of Nation
Lays Whole Story Of Mine
and Rail Strikes Be-
fore the People.
Asks Coal Commission.

Washington, Aug. i8.--(By A. P)
President Harding laid the whole
story oil the rail and coal strikes be-
fore the American people today with
a pledge that, whatever the cost gov.
ernment by law will be sustained.
Summing up before a joint session
OF senate and house, his efforts to-
ward industrial peace, the president
asserted that neither employers nor
employees could escape responsibility
for the present situation, and that no
small minority would be permit.
ted by armed lawlessness, "conspir-
aey" or 'barbari,y md bu,ehery,' 10
override the paramount interests OF
the public.
I'VE must reassert the doctrine that
In this republic the first obligation
aud the first allegiance of every eiti-
zen, high or low, Is 10 his governs
menl," said the president. mo mat
ter what clouds may gather, no mat
ter what storms may eDsue, no mat
ter what hardships may attend or
what sacrifice may be necessary, goy-
ernment by law must be sustained.
Uphold Rights Of Men.
Wherefore ! am resolved TO use
all the power OF the government 10
maintain transportation and to sus.
tain the rights OF men TO work"
To strengthen the hand OF adminis-
tration in dealing with present and iu-
ture coal troubles, Mr.. Harding
asked for authorization Of national
agency to purchase, sell and distrib.
ute coal, and for creation Of COM
mission TO inquire into every phase
OF coal production, sale and distribu.
toion."
No similar request has been made
for emergency rail legislation, the
president saying that although the
railroad labor board had inadequate
authority, other agencies of the gov.
ernment were armed with statutes 70
prevent conspiracy against interstate
commerce and to insure safety in
railway operation.
1T is my purpose" he continued,
TO invoke these laws, civil and crinl-
inal, against all offenders alike"
Would Protect Aliens.
One other legislative enactment.
law to permit the federal govern
mcnt to step in and protect Aliens
where state protection fails, was ad-
vocated by the chief executive as .
result Of what he termed "the butchery
Of human beings, wrought in mad.
ness, at Herrin, III. Despite the
protests of foreign governments
whose nationals suffered in the Her.
rim mine battle, he said, federal Off
cials were powerless TO take in hand
the situation created "by the mockery
OF local inquiry and the failure OF JUS
tice in Illinois"
Members 81 the senate and house
received the announcements OF the
president with repeated salvos OF ap-
plause. Generally the address won
appreciation from all elements in con-
gress, although some democratic
members were inclined to criticize
the chief executives utterances as
capable OF double construction.
At the White House it was in
dicated that Mr.. Harding's reference
to invocation OF existing statutes
against conspiracy related to the
Sherman antitrust law under which
the Department of Justice already has
directed an investigation of the acts
Of some members of nonstriking rail
unions who walked or in the far
west.
The text Of President Harding's
address will be found on Page 8,