The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-18

| has Deen accepted.
Thus the narrative brings US to the
present moment, but it has not included
the developments which have heightened
strikes have developed here and there,
| seriously impairing interstate, commerce.
desert regions of the southwest have re-
vealed the cruelty and contempt for law
/ have conspired to paraIyze transportation
and lawlessness and violence in a hundred
places and have revealed the failure of the
striking unions to hold their forces to law
observance
workers Were Attacked.
MEN who refused to strike and who have
/ lives to serve a public need have been
cruelty attacked and wounded or killed.
| to protect lives and property, even Off
GERS of the federal government, have been
I assaulted, Inundated and hindered in their
duties. Strikers have armed themselves
and gathered in mobs about railroad shops
to offer armed violence to any man at
of lawlessness shocking to every concep-
ton of American law and order and
American freedom. At no time has the fed
eral government been unready- or unwilling
order and restrain violence, but in no case
has state authority confessed its inability
to cope with the situation and asked for
federal assistance.
Threaten To Break Transportation.
"Under these conditions of intolerance
and Intimidation. there has been such a
| teriOratiOn of locomotives and, the non
compliance with the safety requirements
of transportation. This very serious me-.
mace is magnified by the millions OF losses
| to fruit growers and other producers OF
| perishable foodstuffs, and comparable loss
es to farmers who depend on transporta-
time. Even worse it is hinderine the
transportation OF available coal when IN
| cause of coal shortage, and life and health
are menaced by coal famine in the great
centers Of population. Surely the threaten
and the country that no body of men,
whether limited in numbers and responsible
numbers and the necessary forces in rail-
road operations shall be permitted to
choose a course which so (nperils public
welfare. Neither organizations of employ
ers nor working mems unions may escape
responsibility. 1t is fundamental to all
rights to lawful pursuits to work and to
| live and choose their own lawful ways to
sin these strikes the rights have been de-
MED by assault and violence, by armed
municipal authorities have winked at these
yiolences, until liberty is a mockery and
1t is fair to say that the great mass of
organized workers do not approve, but
they seem helpless to hinder. These con.
free men cannot toll according to their own
lawful choosing, all our constitutional
guarantees born of democracy are surren-
dered to the small minority which would
have law.
at is not my thought to ask congress to
deal with these problems at this time. No
hasty action would contribute to the solu-
tion of the present critical situation: There
is existing law by which to settle the pre-
vailing disputes. There statutes for
bidding conspiracy to hinder interstate ate
highest possible safety in railway service.
1t is my purpose to invoke these laws,
alike.
lone specific thing must ask at your
hands at the earliest possible moment There
is pending a bill to provide for the better
protection of aliens and for the enforce
in short, to create a jurisdiction for the
federal courts thru which the national gov
profeep aliens in the rhts secured to them
under treaties and to deal with crimes
which affect our foreign relations.
1.-THE matter has been before congress on
MY renewal Of this oft-made recon-
incubation is impelled by a pitiaDiie be- sense ns
shocking crime at Herrtp, Ill, which SO
In that butchery of human beings. wrought
in madness. it is alleged that two aliens
ragged sense of American justice the
humiliation which lies in the federal gov
ernment's confessed lack of authority to
punish that unutterable crime.
our own and the wrath of righteous jus
should have pitied the civilization that
would tolerate and sorrow for the govern
menC unW1lllnE or unable meIe out just
punishment.
Blot on National. Shield.
al have felt the deep current of popular
resentment that the government has not
shield. that the federal government has
been tolerant of the mockery of local in
It is the regrettable truth that the federal
government cannot act under the law. But
enable the federal courts to act appropri-
ately will open the way to punish barbartty
and butchery at Herrin or elseyhere, no
matter in whose name or for what purpose
the insufferable Outrage is committed,
at is deplorable that there are or can
be American communities, not to speak of
public officials, who believe mob welfare
is admissible to cure any situation. 1t is
terroriEing to know that such madness
may be directed against men merely for
CHI oosing to accept lawful employment 1
wish the federal government to be able
ization and punish them who sanction
an the weeks of patient conference and
attempts at settlement. have come to
appraise another element in the engrossing
to take cognizance. 1t is in some degree
responsible for the strikes and has him
dered attempts at adjustment. l refer to
the warfare on the unions of labor. The
government has no sympathy or approval
for this element OF discord In the ranks OF
industry. Any legislation In the future
must be free from this element of Gou
BILE making as it is from labor extremists
who strive for class domination.
Recognized in Law.
I've recognize these organizations IN
the law and We must accredit them with
incalculable contribution to labor's uplift.
1t is of public interest to preserve them
and profit by the good that is in them,
but we must check the abuses and the ex-
cesses which conflict with public interest
precisely we have been progress
sively legislating to prevent capital
nation which is contrary to pub
lie welfare. We also recognize the
right of employers and employees alike
within the law, 10 establish their methods
of conducting business to choose their en-
ployment and to determine their relations
with each other. We must reassert the
doctrine that in this republic the first OBJ
legation and the first allegiance of. every
cff hfgh or Inv IL q his government