The New York herald., 1922-07-27
HARDING DECLARES
ALL LABOR Is FREE
Continued from First Page.


exercising their constitutional and
lawful rights. under existing statutes,
In declining to work under the terms
decided by the Railroad Labor Board
or rendered to the workmen by the
mine operators of the country
No one has attempted or proposed
to draft free men into either the rail-
way or mining service, or suggested
coercion under military force. The
military forces OF free America are
never used for such purpose. Their
service Is only that OF preventing law
lessness and violence. That same un-
challenged freedom which permits you
and your associates to decline to work
is no less the heritage of the free
American who chooses to accept en-
ployment under the terms proposed.
The difference between the two po-
sitions Is that the striking railroad
workers exercise their rights of free
dom In seeking to hinder the neces-
sary transportation Of the country,
Notwithstanding the provision made
by law for the consideration Of any
just grievance and the striking min
ers 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 time are maxi
ing their contribution to our common
American welfare.
The decisions of the Railroad
Labor Board In compliance with
Int lox L. nf
the United States. Without discuss
ing the decisions at issue, It is fair to
assume that Government agency is
ever ready to correct an error which
is made, else government itself would
become unjust.
Moreover, 1t Is indisputable that
there can be no government unless
its mandates are accepted by the
citizenship of the republic. This OBJ
servatioR relates more particularly
TO the railroad situation. When the
mining situation became menacing I
invited representatives of the nnne
workers and the operators to con-
ference. They came together, they
were advised as to the call Of COM
mon welfare, yet In eight days OF
opportunity no progress was made.
In the absence of any tribunal au-
thorized to settle disputes between
mine workers and their employers
2 the Federal Government then volun-
tarily proposed the creation of a ma
tional commission before which the
disputes might be settled justly. IN
the light of full information and In
accordance with the best expressions
Of our modern civilization.
Instead of contemplating the resort
to force 1t anticipated the very op-
posite--ind ustrial peace with justice
to every man concerned.
Instead of aiming at Involuntary
servitude" to which you inexcusably
refer the Government asked the mine
workers to resume their activities IN
response to a manifest public need.
at precisely the same wages and
under precisely the same working
conditions as those under which they
had been working contentedly for the
last two years.
Those who spoke for the mine
workers refused such a proposal.
There is no dispute Of the right to re-
fuse. Since they declined to re-
spond, and since 1t is believed there
are enough men who love this coun-
try and cherish It's security and be-
lieve in serving the common welfare.
to come to the relief of the mining
situation and avoid suffering. priva-
ition and paralysis, / asked the Gov
yernors of the coal mining States to
invite mine operators and mine work.
ers to resume their activities, and to
promise that to which every man Is
entitled, namely, protection in his
lawful pursuits.
This protection applies alike to the
men on strike who observe the law
and make no lawless interference
with men at work, and to the men
who are lawfully at work and en-
titled to protection by every agency
of government in that work. II you
mean to challenge the Righteousness
Of free men to be protected in their
lawful pursuits against interference
and violence will be glad to join
you In submitting that question to
the decision of the American people.
1t will interest you to know that
instead of the Governments action
being an expression Of the prefer
ence of. the capitalistic class. 1t has
been quite as much opposed by those
who speak for employers as II is by
you and your associates. Govern
ment undertakes to represent neither
class alone. and is opposed to all con-
flict among classes. and disputes
the right of any group or class, or
ganized or unorganixed. 70 imperil
American welfare. Government
speaks only for the American peo-
pie as a whole and the common good
Of all it's citizenship.
In view OF all that the Government
has done or attempted to do during
the past year and half to relieve
the American farmer from the bur-
dens of readjustment and to relieve
labor from the hardships Of unem-
ployment i know your attempted ap-
peal to American prejudices will fall
upon deaf ears. 1t Is as ungrateful
as IL Is untruthful.
II you are the believer In peace
and harmony and the reign of justice,
which you would have believed, I
invite you now to pass judgment on
the failure OF the mine workers to
accept the awards OF an able and
impartial commission In determining
the merits OF the dispute between
coal miners and coal operators, and
invite you to urge the striking rail-
way workmen to accept the decision
Of the American Railroad Labor
Board, acting under the authority of
the law, which must be supreme, and
rptrIru IN work under that dariqtop