Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-15

which very large portion OF the
traffic was able to bear. Neither the
| managers nor the commission saw at
to adopt the suggestion. Railways
are not expected to render the most
essential service In our social or
ganizatiOn without fair return
On capital invested, but the govern
ment has gone so far In the reg
uiatiOn of rates and rules of OPP
Grafton that 1t has the responsibility
OF pointing the way to the reduced
freight costs so essential to your ma
tlonal welfare. Government operation
does not afford the cure.
THE labor board itself Is not so con-
stituted as best to serve the public In
terest. With six partisan members on
board of nine, three partisans NOM
mated by the employees and three by
the railway managers, it is inevitable
that the partisan viewpoint is main
tanned throughout hearings and in de.
clslons handed down. ). am
well convinced that the functions of
this tribunal could be much better car
rled on here in Washington.
Offers New Plan.
The substitution of a TABOR divi-
sion in the interstate commerce COM
mission made up from it's membership
to hear and decide disputes relating
TO wages and working conditions
which have failed of adjustment by
proper committees created by the rail-
ways and their employees. offers q
more effective plan. :.
"This suggested substitution will in
volve a necessary increase in the men,
bership of the commission. probably
four, to constitute the labor division.
II the suggested appeals to the con-
gress, 1t will be well to specify that
the labor division shall be constituted
or representatives of the four rate
making territories, thereby assuring
tribunal conversant with the condi-
tons which obtain in the different
rate-making sections of the country.
Il wish l could bring to you the
precise recommendation for prevention
OF strikes which threaten the welfare
OF the people and menace public safe
ty. 1t is an impotent civilization and
an inadequate government which
lacks the genius and the courage to
guard against such menace to public
welfare as we experienced last sum-
Mer. Public interest demands
that ample power shall be conferred
upon the labor tribunal whether 1t is
the present board or the suggested sub
stitute, to require its rulings to be
accepted by both parties to disput-
ed question.
LET there be no confusion about
the purpose of the suggested confer
ment of the power to make the decis-
ions effective. There can be no denial
Of constitutional rights to either rail-
way workmen or railway managers.
Most Demoralizing Factor.
Constitutional prohibition has been
adopted by the nation. It Is the
supreme law Of the land. In plain
speaking, there are conditions relating
to it's enforcement which SAVIOR of
nationwide scandal. 1t is the most
demoralizing factor in our public life.
"Most of our people assumed that
the adoption Of the eighteenth amend
ment meant the elimination of the
question from our politics. On the
contrary, it has been so intensified as
an issue that many voters are dis
posed to make all political decisions
with reference to this single question.
1t is distracting the public mind. and
preiudicing the judgment of the cleo
torate.
"The day is unlikely to come when
the eighteenth amendment will be re-
pealed. The fact may as well be rec
ogniZed and our course adapted ac-
Cordingly. If the statutory provisions
for its enforcement are contrary to
deliberate public opinion, which, l do
not believe, the rigorous and literal
enforcement will concentrate public
attention on any requisite modification.
"Such course conforms with the
law and saves the humiliation Of the
government and the humiliation of our
people before the world, and challenges
the destructive forces engaged in wide
spread violation. official corruption,
and individual decentralization.
Plans Governors Meet.
1.-THE eighteenth amendment involves
the concurrent authority of state and
federal governments for the enforce
ment of the policy it defines. A GER
tain lack Of definiteness, through d.
vision of responsibility is thus intro
duced. In order to bring about full
understanding of duties and RESPONSE
bilities. as thus distributed purpose
to invite the governors of the states
and territories, at an early opportunity,
to a conference with the federal ex-
ecutive authority. Out of the full and
free considerations which will thus be
possible, it is confidently believed will
emerge more adequate comprehen-
sion of the whole problem, and definite
policies of national and state co-opera-
ton in administering the laws.
"There are pending bills for the reg
istration of the alien who has CONF to
our shores. wish the passage of such