The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-27
RINGING ANSWER
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for the service OF this country IN the
world war. Nor is ii disputed that the
men on strike are exercising their con-
Stitutlonal and lawful rights under eH-
listing statutes in declining TO work UNI
der the terms decided by the railroad
labor board or rendered 10 the wokmen
by the mine operators OF the country
No one has attempted or proposed TO
draft freemen into either the railway
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 lawlessness and
violence. That same unchallenged free
dom which permits you and your asso-
riatcs To decline to work Is no less
the heritage of the free American which
chooses TO accept employment under the
terms proposed The difference between
the two positions Is that the striking
railroad workers exercise their rights
of freedom in seeking 10 hinder the
necessary transportation Of the coun-
try: Notwithstanding the provision
made by law for the consideration Of
any lust grievances: and the striking
miners seek TO prevent the PRODUCTION OF
coal necessary to common welfare. not
wIthStanding the offer of an agency to
make an impartial settlement while the
men who chose 10 work in response 10
the call Of the country are exercising
their like rights and at the same time
arc making their contribution 10 our
common welfare The decisions Of the
rail labor board are in compliance with
mandate Of the lnwmaking' body nf
tho United States Without discussing
tho decisions az issueil Il IS fair IN
assume that government agency is
ever ready 10 correct an error which
Is made, else government Itself would
become unjust. Moreover. Il - !ndis-
putahlc that there can I've no govern
ment unless is mandates are accepte ed
by the citizenship OF the republic. This
observation relates more particularly 10
the railroad situation. When the min
Ing situation became menacing, I in
"itcd Representations IF the mine work
ers and the operators TO conference.
They came together. they We're advised
as 10 the call Of common welfare yet
~ eight days Of opportunity no prog
ross made In the absence nf any
tribunal authorized To- settle disputes
between nine workers and their employ
erS the federal government then volun-
iary proposed the creation OF a national
nigh, he settled justly in the light Of
information and in accordance with the
best expressions Of our modern c!vili-
cation. Instead of contemplating the
resort to force It anticipated the very
pposite-!ndustria peace with justice
To very man concerned Instead Of aim
Ing at involuntary servltude.' to which
YOU ineXcuSably refer, the government
asked the miner workers TO resume their
activities, in response 10 a manifest pub
lie need, Mt precisely the same wages
and under precisely the same working
conditions as those under which they
had been working contentcdIy for the
last Two Years. Those who spoke for
;hc mine workers refused such a pro
posal.
The Right to Refuse 9.
There Is no dispute Of the right to
refuse. Since they declined 10 respond
and since II il believed there are enough
men who love this country and cherish
It's security and believe in serving the
common welfare /" come 10 - relief o.
the mining situation and avoid suffer
ing. privation an. paralysis. / asked the
governors Of tho coal mining states 10
invite mine operators and mine work
erS to resume their activities and to
titled, namely. protection in his lawful
pursuits. This protection applies alike
TO the men on strike who observe the
law and make no lawlcss interference
with men AZ work and 10 the men who
are lawfully at work and entitled 10
protection by every agency Of govern
ment in that work. If YOU mean ia
challenge the Righteousness Of frecmen
To he protected In their lawful pursuits
against Interference and violence. | Will
he glad IN Join YOU in submitting that
question 10 the decision Of the .tmeri-
can people.
1T Will interest YOU IN know that in
stead OF the governments action hCimC
an expression OF the preference of tho
Capitalistir class. il has been quite a.
much opposed by those who speak for
employers as II Is by you and your as
soCiatcs. Government undertakes to re
present neither class alone and IS OPP
posed 10 all conflict among classes and
disputes tho right OF an ygroup or class.
organized or unorganized. to impertl
American welfare. Government speaks
only for the American people as a
whole and the common good Of all it's
citizenship.
I'm view Of all that the government
has done or attempted to do during
the past year and half 10 relieve the
American farmer from the burdens Of
readjustment and to relieve labor from
the hardships of unemployment. know
your attempted appeal to American pre-
iudice will fall upon deaf ears. II Is
nugrateful and II is untruthful. If you
are the believer in peace and harmony
and the reign Of justice which you
would have believed. invite YOU now
to pass judgment on the failure OF the