New-York tribune., 1922-08-19
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diction were asserted by suitable
legislation by Congress-"
Ny renewal of this oft-made
recommendation is in1pelled by a
pitiable sense of Federal impotence
to deal with the shocking crime at
Herrin, ILL.,, which SO recently
shamed and Mortified the country. In
that butchery of human beings.
wrought in madness, it is alleged
that two aliens were murdered. This
act adds to the outraged sense Of
American justice the humiliation
which lies in the Federal govern
ment's confessed lack of authority
to punish that unutterable crime.
Would Have Pitied
Another Government
Had it happened in any other land
than our own, and the wrath of
righteous justice were not effectively
expressed, we should have pitied the
civilization that would tolerate and
sorrow for the government unwilling
or unable to mete out just punish
ment.
| have felt the deep current of
popular resentment that the Federal
government has not sought to efface
this blot from our national shield,
that the Federal governments has
been tolerant of the mockery of
local inquiry and the failure of
Justice in Illinois. 1t is the regret
table truth that the Federal gov
ernment cannot act under the law
But the hestowal of the jurisdiction
necessary to enable Federal courts
to act appropriately will open the
way to punish barbarity and butch
ery at Rerrin or elsewhere, no mat
ter in whose name or for what pur-
pose the insufferable outrage is COM
mitted.
It is deplorable that there are or
can be American communities where
even there are citizens, not to speak
of public officials, who believe mob
warfare is admissible to cure any
situation. 1t is terrofiZing to know
that such madness may be directed
against men merely for choosing to
accept lawful employment l wish
the Federal government to be able TO
put an end to such crimes against
civilization and punish those who
sanction them.
In the weeks of patient conference
and attempts at settlement l have
come to appraise another element in
the engrossing industrial dispute
of which 1t is only fair to take cog
nizance 1t is in some degree re-
sponsible for the strikes and has
hindered attempts at adjustment.
refer to the warfare on the unions
of labor. The government has no
sympathy or approval for this ele-
ment of discoS in the ranks of in
dustry. Any legislation in the
future must be as free from this
from labor extremists who strive for
class domination We recognize
these organizations in the law and
we must accredit them with incaE
culable contribution to labor's up
lift
1t is of public interest to preserve
them and profit by the good that is i'm
them, but we must check the abuses
and the excesses which conflict with
public interest, precisely as we have
been progressively legislating to
prevent capitalistic, corporate or
managerial domination which is con-
trary to public welfare. We also
recognize the right of employers and
employees alike, within the law, to
establish their methods of conduct
ing business, to choose their en-
ployment and to determine their re-
lations with each other. We must
reassert the doctrine that in this re-
public the first obligation and the
first allegiance of every citizen, high
or low, is to his government, and to
hold that government to be the just
and unchallenged 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 ensue, no matter
what hardships may attend or what
sacrifice may be necessary, govern
ment by law must and will be sus-
tanned
Wherefore am resolved to use all
the power of the government to
maintain transportation and sustain
the right of men to work.