Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-28
UNANsWERABLE.

rs. - AEE.tgEtSHEEfI r
The statement BY President, Harding called
forth BY the insulting and offensive telegram sent
him by ]. Clcye Dean, chairman Of the Railway En-
lployes' publicity association, is unanswerable and
unassailable. Conceding without question the right
Of workmen to discontinue their employment. the
president asserts with equal emphasis the right of
the duty Of, the nation to see that they are fully pro
tcctcd If. the: exercise of that right.
1t is a we'll known fact that few great strikes
are brought about by the spontaneous action Of the
worknen themselves. Strike votes are taken under
conditions which coerce men who do not desire or
approve of a strike to give it their formal assent.
Persistent %agltators place upon the vote in favor. of
authorizing a strike The Interpretation that it is an
act of loyalty to, the organization and an expression
of confidence in the leaders, as we'll as a weapon
placed in the hands Of those leaders by means of
which they may force concessions from employers.
Not only do most men not desire to be disloyal, but
they are reluctant to place themselves in a position
where they may be charged with disloyalty. The
path Of least resistance lies in the direction of vot-
ing to authorize the strike. NJ Et4
The strike once authorized, power to call it is
vested in the hands of a few leaders, and when those
leaders declare a strike, 1t is held to be the duty of
the workmen to support them by walking out. Not
all the employees obey the. command to quit. Those
who do not, may be subjected to bodily assault, or
they may not. But whether they are or not, they
are subjected to abuse and insult, as are all who
offer themselves for work in place of the men who
have quit. In the case of the latter there is a pro-
cess of intimidation which is often as effective as
direct assault would be. The man who offers him
self is met and interviewed. Not a word may be
uttered which would bel held actionable in any
court. but the new man is nevertheless given to
understand that his general health is likely to be
more satisfactory if he remains away from the place
which is under the ban.
All th;c -, he dooo ,-d - -. .o-a. - .. 49,
in such a way that it would be practically impos-
sible to prove that any statute had been violated.
Yet it has the effect of keeping men away from
work. and the power that keeps them away is the
menace, whether expressed or implied, of physical
violence.
1t is protection against this sort of thing that is
needed, as we'll as protection from assault and bat
terry, and that protection can be given only by
means of an aroused public sentiment which will
assert itself squarely on the side of common dec
ency. The presidents clear and explicit declaration
will do much to arouse that sentiment.
The president has pointed out that he has invit-
ed the railway hdpmen to return to work under the
conditions of the award made by a regularly con-
stituted public commission, the decisions Of that
board to be reviewed wherever there is reason to
believe that they are unsound. He points out that
in the absence of such a board operating in connec-
ton with the coal industry, he has invited the men
to return to work under the wages and conditions
which prevailed before the strike, submitting all
Questions in dispute to a commission which he will
appoint. "
In both cases the work1nen, or their representa-
tives, have refused. He does not question their
legal right to refuse. But he declares that if recog-
milton is given to the legal right Of certain men to
perform an, act which entails loss and suffering on
the publics there must also be absolute recognition
of the right-of other men to engage in work which
will result in supplying the public with the things
which it needs and must have.
Men are not to be forced to work at the point
of the bayonet. But neither are other men to be
deferred from work by clubs and briekbats. or by
other nstrumentalities which have a like intimidat-
ing effect.