Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-05
EDITORIAL
HARDING SPEAKS FOR THE
REAL AMERICA.

"THE Eighteenth Amendment de-
MES to minority a fancied
sense of personal liberty, but the
amendment is the will of America
and must be entertained by the gov
eminent and public opinion, else con-
tempt for the law will undermine our
very foundations"
This statement was made by Presi-
dent Harding in Fourth Of July
speech at his cold home town. of
Marion, Ohio, in his first visit back
there since his elevation to the White
House. In it he spoke the voice of
the nation. While it is true, as all
know, that there are differences as
regards prohibition, its wisdom and
its effectiveness, we believe there is
no doubt that it is the expressed
will Of the overwhelming majority Of
the people and will continue to be.
Prohibition is here to stay, because
the people want it, and it is not good
citizenship to participate in the elan
destine violations Of the law constant
ly practiced by SO many of our So
called good citizens. Such acts tend
to bring law into contempt and are
therefore dangerous to the fabric of
which our government is built.
President Harding had few com
ments to make upon the labor stu
alton, which is again in the forefront
of public attention because of the
strike last week of the railroad shop
men of the country, following the
local miners strike of some weeks
ago. Said he:
"a free American has the right to
labor without any others leave. 1t
would be no less an abridgement to
deny men the right to bargain col
lectively, and governments cannot
tolerate any class or group DONNA
ton through force. 1t will be
sorry day when group domination is
reflected in our laws. Government
and the laws which government is
charged with enforcing must be for
all the people ever aiming at the COM
mon good"
Although this statement by the
president is not very explicit, the
final sentence reveals the policy of
the government. A few days ago
Harding in effect served notice on
the coal operators and miners, who
have been apart for months and the
result of which is that the ma
tons coal supply is almost exhaust
ed, that if they didn't settle their
differences speedily they might ex-
pect the government to take hold and
operate their mines for the public
good And if the railroad strike
comes to point where it seriously
threatens commerce the government
Will step in and operate the trains.
Arthur Brisbane, always friend
of labor and the masses, observes
that the public, which has been
through a great world war and is
still paying the enormous cost there
Of, is tired of class wars and pre-
diets that no labor strike of major
proportions will be successful at this
or any other early date, because Of
the power Of public sentiment against
such strikes.
The rights of the public are para
mount to those of any party to these
disputes, he asserts, and that a too
long harassed public will not permit
n itself to be trodden upon as com
u placently as Of yore.
The president might have been
speaking with reference to Georgia,
IN part of his address when he de-
clared with emphasis that his zone
outstanding conviction" after 16
months in White House was that the