Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-28
ROOT PREDICTS
PROHIBITION Of
STRIKES BY LAW
Harding Administration Has
Accomplished the Five
Things Most Needed, He
Declares in Address.

Albany, y. Y. Sept. 27-Early
adoption by the republican con-
grcss OF laws at once prohibiting
strikes which "cut off the supply
Of food or service necessary to the
life of the community" and at the
same time protect the workman
liberty, was predicted by Emu
Root, temporary chairman, in ms
address before the republican state
convention today.
Touching on the recent rail and
coal strikes, Mr.. Root said:
1--WE are all employers and labor
crs and the general public is apt to
he impatient about strikes. SO
long as strikes were a contest be-
tween laborers and employers TO
secure for labor its fair share OF
the new wealth which has come to
mankind through invention and
discovery and Application OF
science, and the art of organlZa-
tion, the sympathies of the Ainert-
can public were with labor. When
ia strike becomes an attempt to
coerce the public into taking action
10y cutting Off the supply of food
and service necessary to the life of
| the community, | am sure that
public feeling goes the other way
"I think that in this country we
are gradually approaching the
Ipojnt where the law Of the land
will provide for distinguishing be-
tween the two kinds Of strikes. and
protecting the public against COM
pulsion by threat of peril TO lire
or OF destruction to the machinery
of civilization. and at the same time
protect the wHrkman's liberty, to
refuse to work and the workman
| liberty to work,
Full Investigation.
81 am inclined to think that
nothing could be better at this
stage of the perennial process of
industrial adjustment than the
condition which has now been
reached through the patience and
sympathetic influence of the presi-
dent. That condition is full and
impartial investigation into the
rights and wrongs upon which the
recent strikes have rested. accom-
panied by a clear and uncompro-
missing declaration by the president
Of the rule of law and liberty,
which is to be "uplied to the re-
suits of the investigation"
Declaring that the five things
most needed when President Hard
ing took office were an ending OF
"the autOcratic method of govern
ment consented to for the purpose
OF carrying on the war, abolition
of the immensely eXtravagant scale
OF expenditures established during
the war, restoration Of normal in
dustrial production, Establishment
Of International peace and conVa-
lescence from the condition of
feverish excitement incident to the
war;" Mr.. Root asserted the Hard
ing administration had accom-
plished all these.
Autocracy Ended.
"Thc president" he declared,
put an end to autocracy by refus-
ing to be an autoCrat, by selecting
an able cabinet, and being willing
to take their advice and let them
run their own departments-at the
same time deciding infleXibly. after
taking counsel. on matters upon
which the chief executive was call
ed to decide"
Mr.. Root pointed to the presi-
dents handling of the rail and coal
strikes as evidences Of his work in
bringing the nation back to normal
industrial conditions, and cited thu
five-power conference at Washing
ton as evidence of his skill as a
statesman in international affairs.
"The fifth thing | mentioned" D."
he continued, was our own nerve
recovery. nd behold, while our
government has been going on in
its honest, sincere and kindly way,
rcdressing abuses. re3orcilinG diff
ferences and establishing a
sound conduct of governn,cn- and
life, we find ourselves cured