The New York herald., 1922-09-15
MILLER SAYS PUBLIC
NEEDS AID In STRIKE.
Continued from First Page.

of ,the striking shopmen in this district
are unalterably opposed TO a fnal strike
settlement which is NOT concluded on a
national basis. Our position In the New
York metropolitan district is more IA
vorabie to-day than at any time since
the strike Is on owing to the failure
OF the railroads to keep their equipment
in repair with a small force OF unskilled
strike breakers. New York is now threat
ened with both food and fuel famine
within the next four weeks
THE employers and employees on
many roads may have composed their
disputes. Indeed. on some there may
never have been any dispute at all. The
executives OF many roads may be anx-
ious TO take their men back. Those men
may be anxious to go back. That must
not be permitted until a settlement Is
effected on a national basis. Why? Be-
cause they think they have the public
by the throat and that would break their
stranglehold. Because New York is
threatened with food and fuel famine
in four weeks and that would relieve Il.
Because babes and children may be
made 10 suffer for the want OF food and
fuel and that might result In feeding
and warming them. In effect they say.
we must maintain our stranglehold
until not our adversary but the public
is brought 10 It's knees. Then we shall
secure our demands
That is the plain English of the
telegram and that is precisely the kind
of thing that i would make a serious
penal offence.
II believe in labor organizations. The
individual worker cannot deal on terms
of equality any more than the farmer
can successfully meet his problems ex-
cept by association with his fellows.
Employers are organized. labor should
organize, but the general public must be
protected from abuses from both forms
of organization. II cannot be left to
the mescy of either or both.
THE truth is that the strike is an
archaic weapon for the settlement OF In
dustrial disputes. though In the past II
may have been the only available
weapon.
Scores Strike Lawlessness.
THE spirit of lawlessness bred by re-
cont Industrial disputes has challenged
evsa me power OF government 70 pro-
tect the lives and property OF its citi-
zens A whole community has been In
cited to a barbarous massacre. There
has been talk of a general strike. the
last weapon OF those who plot revolu-
ton In this state the head OF the State
Federation Of Labor publicly stated that
500 strikers were armed In the city OF
Buffalo to wipe out the State constab-
ulary IL they had not been Withdrawn
from that city. and when his attention
was called to the statement after he had
had time to reflect his only excuse for
making 1t was that he repeated what
some one else had said.
"Of course, he did not mean what he
said. OF course, the members OF his or
ganization neither stand for such state
ments nor approve OF acts Of iawlessness
They are law abiding citizens the same
as the great mass OF our people are
| law abiding citizens. but under such In
temperate leadership they did adopt
resolution at their State convention ask
ing for either the abolition of the STATE
Constabulary or In effect that they b'
prevented from suppressing Iawlessnes'
incident TO industrial disputes. Tha
resolution challenges the power of th'
State to preserve order and to protec
life and property. for that is all thu
State Constabulary does.
Serious rioting threatening life ant
property started in Buffalo and th'
Sheriff notified me that II had got be
yond the control OF the local peace ON
GERS. sent in the state Constabularl
In force. they promptly restored orde
1 and retired. and no similar outbreak
have been reported to me since. Storie
have been circulated OF unlawful act
of violence committed by the Stat
troopers. have inquired into ever,
such case that has been brought &
my notice and find the report un
founded. !.
"The highest function Of the State i
to protect all its citizens. not par
only. from acts of lawlessness and vlo
lonce. II is my sworn duty to discharg
that duty. and I'm answer to the chal
ienge OF the State Federation OF Labo
cay to them that I propose to dis
charge st."