Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-14
DANGER or INDIFFERENCE.

DANGER OF INDIFFERENCE.
x President Harding has called
upon the people to support the
COVE rnment in it's efforts to main
tain Jaw and order so essential to
the\ conduct of activities necessary
to THEN well-being.
Yet. when the four months Of
the mine strike are reviewed, there
is very little evidence of interest
on the part Of the people beyond
wondering where tTpey are going to
get their winters coal. As for the
rail strike, not half the people have
given it attention enough to know
tween the government and the
railroaders. From the very first
the people generally have been ap-
athletic to the point of indiffer-
fence. They have had to be told
that the governments efforts were
their CONCERN, that government
action would he for their welfare,
and that government must be sup
ported by them in its efforts to
protect them if it succeed.
When one considers the matter
such indiffere uce is natural. While
the people realize in a measure
that they constitute the third
party" they hsye regarded indus
trial conferences largely affairs OF
capital and labor, and if they have
sympathized at all have leaned to.
ward labor whatever their own in
terests. They have not been ablt
clearly to understand that Their,
could be controversy in Which
they themselves might be one o
the principals, and, i'm the presen
instance, have not distinguished be
tween the mine strike and the raj
strike as they should, or appreci
ated the significance of the at
tempt of labor leaders 10 combin
them. Even now the large ma
iority of people do not realize tina
in the rail strike the question a
issue is actually the supremacy o
government,
So accustomed have the peopl
become in politics as we'll as /
civics TO delegate representative
and leaders to work out matter
without Consulting them, that the
do not appear, at least, to under
stand their own responsibility fc
results. And it is this very indit
ference TO responsibility in polite
which has beer the basis of argl
ment ,of all critics of democrat
forms of government. Now that
extends to civics as well, it may
regarded by them as cEnchir
their argument, and with consi,
cradle reason. For, until matte
for which the people are respons
BILE are Drought home to them ;
these two national industrial col
troversies have been, there is ci
cumstpntial evidence at least. II
president and several governo
have now brought the issue squar
ly to the people.
And the fact that the peop
have been urged to support Il
government must remain evi1er
until they act in support, unt
aroused to realization of the que
ton at issue, they assume the
responsibility. Officials to who
the people have delegated pow
and authority now tell them VIII
the issue is and that it is up
them" in answer to leaders of c
ganized labor who declare that {
workers must have living wag
titled in employing whatever for
may be necessary" which is tant
mount to declaring that they q
justified in .defying law and d
turbing order. And this thou
the loss of single life or the q
astruction of a dollars worth
property through violence Jesse
the security of all lives and
property. When life and proper
are insecure, or even when tn
are threatened, it's a question
maintaining and supporting e.
eminent for which the people E
Responsible, and. US they dischai
responsibility, they conserve tn
own best interests.
In calling upon the people
support the government, Presid'
Harding may have used more 81
eral terms, as may the governe
State papers are prepared caref
". sometimes too carefully to
understood by a large portion
the people But there is no n
taking the fact that intent q
purpose of every proclamation
TO call the people from their
difference to national crisis 81
as this country has never expt
enced. and to action in support
governmental undertaking
maintain law and order, thereby
make again possible those act
ties which are essential to the y
fare of the people. And tn
proclamations went farther-t
warned the people that, while
government intended to discha
it's responsibility, the measure Y
which the people discharged tn
determined their own security.
Thus, the more the present CT
III IL considered the more indif
ence of the people is crime
strong word but none the less
ac+lv descriptive.