The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-19

only where the positions were vacant neither proposal has been accented
 Thus the narrative brings us to the present moment, but it has not in- cluded the developments which have heightened the governments concern.
 Sympathetic strikes have deveIaped here and there, seriously impairing in terstate commerce. Deserted trans continental trains in the desert re- gions of the Southwest have revealed the cruelty and contempt for law on the part of some railway employees. who have conspired to paralyze trans portation and lawlessness and violence in hundred places have revealed the failure of the striking unions to hold their forces to law observance.
 Men who refused to strike and who have braved insult and assault and risked their lives to serve a public need have been cruelty attacked and wounded or killed. Men seeking work and guards attempting to protect lives and property. even officers of the Federal government, have been l assaulted, humiliated, and hindered Mob Rule Denounced.
 Strikers have armed thmselves and
 gathered in mobs about railroad shops to offer armed violence to any man attempting to go to work.
 | There is a state of lawlessness shocking to every conception of l American law and order and violating 1 the cherished guarantees of Ameri- can freedom. At no time has the Federal government been unready or | unwilling to give it's support to main l tain law and order and restrain vio- fence, but in no case has state author ity confessed its inability to cope with | the situation and asked for Federal assistance.
 Under these conditions of hindrance
 and intimidation there has been such | a lack of care of motive power that | the deteroriation og locomotives, and
 the noncompliance with the safety requirements of the law, are threaten ing the breakdown ot transportation.
 This very serious menace is magnified | by the millions of losses to fruit growers and other prod lcers of per 1 ishab1e foodstuffs and comparable
 losses to farmers who depend on | transportation to market their grains l at harvest time, even worse.
 | It is hindering the transport of
 available coal when industry is on the verge of paralysiH because of coal
 menaced by coal famine in the great
 centers of population.
 Surely the threatening conditions must impress the Congress and the country that no body of men. whether limited numbers and responsible fol railway management, or powerful ir numbers and the necessary forces 1T railroad operation, shall be permit
 perils public welfare. Neither or
 ganizations of employers nor work
 ingmen's unions may escape responsi
 bility.
 It is fundamental to all freedom
 that all men have unquestione6
 rights to work and live and choos'
 their own lawful ways to happiness
 In these strikes these rights have beer
 denied by assault and violence, b!
 armed lawleSsnesS. In many com
 munities the municipal authorities
 have winked at these violations, un til liberty is mockery and the law
 a matter of community contempt. l
 is fair to say that the great mass O organized workmen do not approve but they seem helpless to hinder
 These conditions cannot remain 1T free America. If free men canno toll according to their own lawfu : choosing, all our constitutional guar : antees born of democracy are sur rendered to mobocracy and the free dom of a hundred millions Is sur rendered to the small minorit. which would have no law.
 It is not my thought to ask Con gress to deal with these fundamenta
 problems at this time. No nasty ac
 ton would contribute to the solution of the present critical situation. Ther is existing law by which to settle tn prevailing disputes. There are sta ] tutes forbidding conspiracy to hinde interstate commerce. There are law | to assure the highest possible safet, in railway service. It is my purpos to invoke these laws, civil and crlm . inaI, against all offenders alike. The legal safeguarding against lik menaces in the future must be work ed out when no passion sways, wheI no prejudice influences, when tn whole problem may be appraised, ant