Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-19

EVENTS OF A WEEK.

On Friday, in his address to congress on the
industrial situation, President Harding said:
We must re-assert the doctrine that inthis re-
public the first obligation and the first allegiance of
I every citizen, high OF low, is to his government. and
to hold that government to be that Just and unehal-
Elenged sponsor for public welfare and the liberty,
security and rights of all its citizens. No matter
what clouds may gather, no matter what storms
may ensle, no matter what ~hardships may attend
or what sacrifice may be necessary, government by
law must and will be sustained.
Wherefore I am resolved to use all the power
Tof the government to maintain the PRINCIPLES and
sustain the right of men to work..
Coming at the close of an impressive address
dealing with the coal and rail strikes which have
ldemoralized the economic activities of the country
Those sentences summarize the spirit of the entire
message, and strike a note which will find ready and
HEARTY response throughout the. country. Uttered
under the circumstances which inspired it, after the
speaker, occupying the highest position in the gift
of the American people, had exhausted the posi-
-asbiites OF peaceful mediation, and made before the
highest legislative body of the nation. for the pur-
fpose of directing the attention of that body to its
plain duty to provide adequate legislative protee-
ition for the public against the constantly recurring
menace of industrial paralysis, that address will take
rank among the most notable utterances of states
men throughout the world.
The address is characterized by the greatest
u simplicity and the utmost frankness. There is
4 nothing in it in the nature of beating around the
bush. The president calls a spade a spade, and a
crime a crime. In Il few blunt sentences he strips
from the outTages at Herrin, Illinois, and on the
sands of Arizona the embroidery OF pretense with
" which some attempt has been made to disguise their
true character, and makes them stand out in all their
hideousness. By. a simple recital Of facts brought
to his personal attention the president brings into
d strong relief the pressure under which many union
men joined in a strike which they did not desire and
OF which they did not approve. And, without pre-
sentng particular bills, OF indicating except in a
general way the legislation which he thinks desir-
able, he places squarely before congress it's respon-
sbility for legislation which will assert effectively
the authority of tie nation over matters which in
sivelve the peace and security of its citizens, and
gss,then perfect freedom of action in all ways consistent
with the public welfare.
The presidents address, postponed from day to
day because OF the fact that possible strike settle
s#iments were pending, came after the completion of
an agreement which, it is assumed, marks the end
ing OF the coal strike. and after numerous confer
aences had failed to produce similar results in rela-
Hation to the rail strike.
The coal agreement, affecting soft coal mines il,
lfhe central field which represent an annual produc-
aatien of 100000 900 tons, provides for the return of
aafhe men to work at the rates prevailing last March,
land Tor the continuance of those rates until next
sApr1l- In the time intervening a new wage scale is
Ito be negotiated for acceptance April i, and 4 COM
snission of inquiry into all the facts in the coal trade
Iis to be appointed, by the joint action of miners and
Aoperators, the members to lie approved by the presi-
dent OF the United States As the president points
Goat IN his address, this leaves the questions in dis
apute unsettled, with the possibility Of another strike
tnHt>spring.
The ran strike situation remains Unchanged, SO
IN as its external manifestations go, although the
1hope has been expressed that tie mediatory efforts
- = ]. -. H. - - 49, iE.L @ 49,
SIS OF agreement may be successful. The question
ssof seniority remains the only real obstacle to settle
anent.
Congress has reached the end Of the week al
sslowed for debate on tariff bill amendments as under
the agreement made the final vote was, to be taken
son Saturday. It is assumed that before this COM
.sgrlEnt is published the bill will have been passed
with the hundreds of amendments attached to it
sssand the measure will then be reported back to the.
house. As the house will not concur in the amend.
sssr1ents the bill will go to conference in the usual
Ii course, and an interesting question arises in that
8J:cpnnectian.a The program calls for a committee
SSGnHnposedsof FIVE members from each house. The
sregular procedure would call for the appointment
sa#pf the three ranking Republicans and two ranking
#Sssspemocrats from the senate finance committee aud
similar list from The house ways and means COM
SSassH1atf5tee. Senator "a Follette IS one oftf,e three SEN
eo1ferees who would thus BE chosen, sJd he has
1t atong bsen opposed Il this beg root ~ branch
aass311tic minority on the Joint eofninittee thu vote
s&6etd stand FIVE tb 1--WE, and the committee wnuld
deadlocke TN block ing tariff lei sIaationa # this
hss slider deshA opf Arthur GfAnb, ieadrsef
geSl ishS Free State party hasA not halted TIE MILF
ssa o<sspisd 81 M sssfs tssops