The Ordway new era., 1922-08-25
HARDING WARNS THAT MINOR.
ITY MUST NOT OVERRIDE
PUBLIC INTERESTS.
PLAY NO FAvoR|TES
NElTHEI EMPLOYERS NOR
WORKING MEMS UNIONS MAY
ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY.

Washington. - President HaruinS
laid the whole story of the rail and
coal strikes before the American peo-
nle in his message of recent date
with pledge that, whatever the cost,
government by law will be sustained.
Summing up before joint session
Of Senate and House his efforts to-
ward Industrial peace, the President
asserted that neither employers nor
employees could escape responsibility
for the present situation, and that no
small minority would be permitted
hy armed lawlessness," conspiracy"
or "barbarity and butchery," to over
ride the paramount interests of the
public.
We must reassert the doctrine that
in this republic the first obligation
and the first allegiance of every citi-
zen. high or low. is to his govern
menr." said the President. NO matter
what clouds may gather, no matter
what storms may enSue. no matter
what hardships may attend or what
sacrifice may he necessary. govern
ment 10y law must and will be sus-
tanned"
Wherefore. | am resolved TO use all
the power of the government to main
tain transportation and to sustain the
rights of men To work.
To strengthen the hand of the ad-
miuistratiun in dealing with present
and Culture coal troubles, Mr.. Harding
asked for authorization of national
agency to purchase, sell and distrib-
ute cual, and for creation of a com
mission to inquire into every phase
ol coal production, sale and distribu-
tion7
M similar request was made for
emergency rail legislation, the Presi-
dent asserting that although the rail-
road labor board had inadequate au-
thority. other agencies of the govern
ment were armed with statutes to pre-
vent conspiracy against interstate com
merce and to insure safety in railway
operation.
1T Is my intention" he continued. 'to
invoke these laws. civil and criminal,
against all offenders alike"
one other legislative enactment. a
/ law 10 permit the federal government
TO step in and protect aliens where
state protection fails. was advocated
/ by the chief. executive as result of
/ what he termed the butchery of hu-
man beings. wrought in Madness at
1 Herrin. H.
Despite the protests of foreign gov
crnments whose nationals suffered in
/ the Herrin mine battle. he said, fed
| eral officials were powerless to take
in hand the situation created by ''the
mockery of local inquiry and the fall
ure Of justice in Illinois,
Throughout his address. President
Harding emphasized his desire that
/ lies as between employers and EN-
ployes, either in efforts TO end the
| existing strikes or in future action
against lawlessness.
Surely" he said, "the threatening
| conditions must impress the Congress
and the country that no body of men,
| whether limited in members and re-
sponsihility for railway management
| or powerful in numbers and tl.e nee
esSary forces in railway operation.
] shall be permitted To choose course
which SO imperiis public welfare.
If free men cannot toll according
10 their own lawful choosing, all our
constitutional guarantees born of de-
mocracy are surrendered to mobocracy
and the freedom of hundred mil
lions is surrendered to the small mi
nority which would have no law"
At the same time the President
called attention to another element
which he said he believed was respon-
sible to some degree for strikes and
for the difficulties of restoring il dus-
trial peace.