The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-07-27

managements but there had been
no new Developments in the stu.
alton.
Washington, July 27.-President
Harding, in telegram sent yester.
day to J. Cleye Dean. chairman OF
the railway employees publicity as
sociation. Chattanooga, Tenn, "in
vited' Dean to urge striking railway
workers TO accept the decision II the
Railroad Labor board and retu,n to
work until you and | and everyone
elese interested in American welfare
may join in asking the Railroad La.
Dor board to give rehearing on
any question concerning which there
is reasonable doubt about the cor.
rectness or the justice of the decision
made
The Presidents message was in re.
ply to a telegram he received last
Sunday from Dean, in which 1t was
said that ito attempt to operate
mines and railroads by military forces
or to attempt TO draft men into min
ing or railroad service would be an
attempt to establish involuntary ser.
vitude" President Harding in his
telegram said he was convinced
Deans attempted appeal to Ameri.
can prejudice Will fall upon deaf
ears"
The President told Dean that II
he we're the believer in peace and
harmony and the reign of justice
which you would have believed, | in.
vite you now to pass on the failure
OF the mine workers to accept the
awards of an able and impartial com
missen in determining the merits OF
the dispute between coal miners and
coal operators"
The assertion of Dean that "the
American farmer and laborer have
come to realize the hostile attitude
OF G. o. p" Mr.. Harding said he
would treat with contempt" The
Presidents telegram, dated July 25,
was as follows
"Mr. Cleye Dean,
Chairman, Railway Employees
Publicity Association,
Chattanooga, Tenn
"Snce you speak as chairman Of
the Railway Employees Publicity as
sociation and since it is exceedingly
important that the American people
know precisely the questions at issue
in the present railway and coal
strikes, | am more than glad 10 an.
swer your telegram, though l can
only treat your politically partisan
references with that contempt which
is felt by every good citizen in the
hour OF deep public concern.
Happily for the American public
everything done and everything said
by government authority relating to
the two strikes Is matter of rec
ord and cannot in any way be dis.
torted. There is no dispute about the
loyal American citizenship OF the
men on strike, nor will anyone ques'
tion that many OF them gave every
thing that men can give for the
service of this country in the World
war. Nor is it disputed that the men
on strike are exercising their con-
stitutional and lawful rights, under
existing statutes, in declining to work
under the terms decided by the rail
road labor board or rendered yo the
workmen by the mine operators OF
the country. No one has attempted
or proposed to draft free men into
either the railway or mining service,
or suggested coercion under military
force. The military forces Of free
America are never used for such a
purpose. Their service is only that
of preventing lawlessness and vio'
lence. That same unchaIlenged free
dom which permits you and your
associates to decline to work is no
less the heritage of the free Amer
lean who chooses to accept employ
ment under the terms proposed. The
difference between the two positions
is that the striking railroad workers
exercise their rights of freedom in
seeking to hinder the necessary
transportation of the country; not
withstanding the provision made by
law for the consideration of any just
grievance; and the striking miners
seek to prevent the production OF
coal necessary to common welfare
Notwithstanding the offer of an
agency to make an impartial settle
ment while the men who choose to
work in response to the call of the
country are exercising their like
, rights, and at the same Tina are
making their contribution to our
common American welfare.
THE decisions Of the railroad labor
board are in compliance with man
date of the law.malng body of the
United States. Without discussing
the decisions at issue, it is fair to
assume that a government agency is