Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-01
EVENTS OF A WEEK.


EVENTS OF A WEEK.
During the past week the American govern
lent has concerned itself actively in two labor con-
~loversies, in the one case to a very great strike, and
Il the other to aid in bringing about conditions
fhich will end another, In each case, that of the
! threatened railway strike and of the existing coal
hrike the government is acting as the conservator
the public interest, and is injecting itself into
~ituations which primarily concern private individ-
Eals because the activities of those individuals are
such a character that their suspension for any
considerable time must work great injury to the
attire population.
II The government has been, unaccountably tardy
! recognizing the coal strike as a national calamity.
II least three months before the strike occurred it
las clearly foreseen. The government took notice
the fact that a strike was to be called, but all its
Its were directed toward the mitigation of the
srike, which it seemed to consider itself powerless
! prevent. Warnings were issued against violence,
Sgainst profteering in coal, and against a number OF
cher things which might be expected to grow out
u the strike, but the cessation of labor and the dis
Dntinuance of production were treated as if they
Aere great commissions of nature, and entirely be-
fond human control.
After three months of idleness throughout most
Nc the mining districts; with the certainty that the
3sssening of the supply could not be repaired before
aaale demand created by cold weather is upon the
,,,ountry; with conditions amounting to- civil war
sIsisting in several districts; and with no appear
lsnce Of Welding on the part of either strikers OF
Employers, President Harding has called a confer
sace of representatives of the two factions at Wash
.f,gton on Saturday. and the preliminary meeting
Jas already been held. "
The purpose of the meeting is to induce the
Iontending interests to agree on a basis for ncgo-
III :-., -.-I k14 4,~,a Sc {h0f ~ G
Tot intended at this stage to propose government
Intervention in any other form. The strike leaders
fave insisted all along on a conference and agree
Iaent national in scope. The operators have as
consistently rejected this plan. They have declared
HHillingness to enter into state or district confer
Hinces, but reject fatty the idea of a national agree
hent. The calling of the conference is generally
ssegarded as marking the first stage of the end of the
i4rike. While the government has studiously re-
FAMED from even the appearance of active inter
@aention, it is taken for granted that if both sides,
tsr either prove obdurate, the president will use the
DE coal production, and. there can be no doubt that
He would not be supported by the government in
fssorng anything less.
81 The attitude of the government toward the
strike of railway %shopnen and other
Employees differs materially from that in relation to
sslhe coal strike. This is largely due, of course. to
Ihe fact that there is in existence machinery created
III the government for dealing with labor and other
affecting transportation, one of these
EEgcncies being the railway labor board. 1t is in
Protest against rulings Of this board providing for
Syage reductions to take effect July l that the strike
was called, to tafe effect Saturday forenoon. The
Essnr1r1oning of the leaders into conference caused
The strike order to be withheld, at least temporarily,
US to the maintenance of way employees. Similar
prevented the strike which was threatened
last fall, and the issues then in dispute have since
ssseen adjusted.
In the present case certain Of the railway union
leaders have declined to respond to the summons
sgsf the board, and in the shop crafts the walkout
ss,pegans on scheduled time. In this case, as in that
SSyf the coal controversy, the country seems to be
confident that the intervention of the government,
YanFthe one case through the president, and in the
ssther through a regularly onstitutedfboard created
Go deal with just such problems as are presented,
makes it practically certain that the difficulties will
IEape adjusted.
During the week the center of Irish disturb
ttnee has moved from Belfast to Dublin. In the
belfast disturbances religious differences entered
lafgeiy into the situation, ard the border warfare
the determination of the people Of one
to 90 their own way under a government
8f fheiir own choosing, and Of the other to over
Throw that government and force another upon the
lbepple. These elements are absent from the Dub
Hill disturbances. In that part of Ireland there ex.
Hats no important problem of religious difference
@here Isl no sectional division, nor any threat OF
Whatever its form Of government is to be
8~366ptsern Ireland will be a unit, and its capital will
b<SDnblin. Nc external force seeks to impose its
Bssilla upon no the people, and no armed force represent
hn sSSsaaaaaortside power IS present
84NWiiNa southern Irishment fighting against
aasILftii shtaen Dublin has during the past weet
S1f9G4S S9a Senc Of military operations ii which
R717efa ASannifeens troops used riHss, machine
80 Nh &3fslst sytilJery zgainst each other, and
Sf{f1l1tSiNR n siess snd sortie have been the-ordef
xSysssTTh is miniature. though 81 no means
HAytFanarkssth s effort q The psovisionsl