The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-08-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
BY ]. E. Jones.
THE UNCHARTED COURSE
= = = =


There is plenty of complaining cri-
ticism of the Intervention by the
Administration in the coal and rail-
road, strikes. The critics are divid-
ed into one class who claim that in
teryention is untenable and unwar-
ranted, and another class who COM
plain that more vigorous measures
should be adopted to bring about a
cessation of the industrial conflict.
The Government is trying its best
to find remedies for the situation in
volved. President Harding says
there are forty different problems in
the issues.
There is a theory, yet improved,
that in the great industrial affairs
of the Nation that three parties ex-
list in every situation, namely: the
employer, the employee, and the pub
lie. It is true that with war to
back it up the Government succeed
ed most olfectually IL telling its side
partners what to do, and what not
to do. But in these halcyon days of
peace, labor and capital seem equally
stubborn in listening to the voice
of their Government.
The Railroad Labor Board issued
orders that have been set at def
ance by the parties affected. The
President pointed out in his proclama-
tion that the railroads and the
strikers both have failed to obey the
orders of the Board. The Presidents
own offers have been Haunted. Now
we have an order by the Interstate
Commerce Commission that pools
railroad faculties in order to meet
the national emergency" No mat
ter how effective this may prove
there is no reason to expect that it
will have any appreciable bearing in
settling the railroad and coal strikes.
Labor and capital have become so
thoroughly organized that neither of
them hesitates to take positions prac-
tically in defiance of the Government.
There is nothing theoretical about
this statement. ct is a condition
that confronts us-not theory" de-
clared Grover Cleveland in 1887 The
definition cannot be improved in 1922.
Despite the fact that the railroads
have been regulated" to the hearts
content by law upon laws evolved out
of legislative mills that have ground
the same old railroad grist for twenty
five years, the boosted power of the
Government to prevent such things
as strikes and lockouts under its
powers to protect the public inter
ests, has not yet been established.
The National Administration finds
that the enforcement of its power
in this direction is underlined. Moral
persuasion an dthe appeal to rea-
son seem to have lost their moral
force since wartime days, Per-
haps one reason for this was the re-
action from the war that left sort
of spirit of rebellion against pater-
naiisn. President Harding and his
advisers are compelled to adr4lit that
their course is an uncharted one.
NATIONALIZING THE MINES
A good many people in discussing
the coal strike are inclined to adj
vance the theory of Matchmaking
the mines" with about the same free
dom Of thought they exercise regard
ing the changing of a tire. They
recognize the fact that there has been
an industrial blowout" and seize
upon what they think is simple
remedy. In wartime we had a
number of illustration of the results
of Matchmaking" our industries.
The Wilson Administration dropped
the experiments at the earliest OPP
portunity. They were "hot potatoes"
and before they could be dumped
overheard they burned away the pol
itical majorities of the party in pow
er.
Senator Borah has introduced a
bill establishing coal commission.
There will doubtless be an 'investi-
cation" by the Senate, as well. These
measures can have nothing to offer
with reference to the immediate con-
ditions affecting the country's COAL
President Harding called upon the
Governors of coal-mining States to
use their whole resources to protect
those who would work in the coal