Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-27
Men Have Right To
Dt sh;ks, Just A. Others Have
Right To Work

4x,tinp raIlIOdu uI,cr
strlhln ssterdav by President Harding
trs YIN suggesting that they return
in ag1H ,ndey conditions already sug'
70 wa by him while the reasonable
ss If their demands were Deine
nsss out by the agencies set up
for that purpose. hin,
lol po ,a to a telegram sent MN
NIFt Glove Dean, chairman of the
D Ds Employees Publicity Associa-
in chattanooga, Tenn, charging
ION ,,o administration was attempt
!nS' 70 mt American labor under the
n in" bv its policy toward the IN
55u aust disturbance, Mr. Harding
said: oho;,nor of
49, pailwav Employees Publicity As
soc;ation and since it is exceedingly
;usnortant that the American people
know precisely the questions at issue
IN tbe present railway and coal strikes
am more than glad to answer your
telegram though l can only treat
rour politically partisan references
With that contempt which is felt
bv every good American citizen IN
Tho hours of deep public concern.
u,nnilv for the American public ev-
erytbing done and everything said by
government authority relating to the
two strikes is a matter of record, and
can not in any way be distorted.
"There is no dispute about the
lovsl American citizenship of the men
on strike, nor will any one question
that many of them gave everything
that men can give for the service OF
this country in the world war. Nor
is if disputed that the men on strike
are exercising their constitutions and
lawful rights, under existing statutes,
in declining to work under the terms
decided BIZ the Railroad Labor board
or tended to the workmen by the mine
operators Of the country. No one has
attempted or proposed to draft free
men into either the railway or min
ing service, or suggested coercion I'M
der military force. ''f'' ''''
Army For Order Only.
, "The military forces of free Amer
lea are never used for such u pur-
pose. Their service is only that Of
preventing lawlessness and violence,
That same unchallenged freedom
which permits you. and your .asso7
sciates to decline ito work is otless
the heritage o. 3ile free American
who chooses to accept employ nent
under the terms proposed. The diff
ference between the two positions is
that the striking railroad workers
exercise their rights of freedom in
seeking to hinder the necessary
transportation Of the country, not
withstanding the provision made by
law for the consideration of any
just grievance; and the striking min
ers seek to prevent the production
of coal necessary to common welfare,
Notwithstanding the offer of an
agency to make an impartial settle
ment; while the men who choose to
work in response to the call of the
country are exercising their like
rights, and at the same time are
making their contribution to our
common American welfare.
The decisions of the Railroad La
Dor board are in compliance with
mandate of the law making body
OF the United States. Without dis
cuSslng the decisions at issue, it is
lar to assume that a government
agency is ever ready to correct an
error which is made, else government
Iset would become unjust.
Moreover, it is indisputable that
there can be no government unless
us mandates are accepted by the cit
lzenshlp of the republic. This obser-
Fauon relates more particularly To
Ihe railroad situation. When the
mining situation became menacing. |
invited representatives of the mine
"ofKerS and the operators to a con-
ference ference. They came together, they
, mele ADVISED as to the call of com
,,'Ua welfare, yet in eight DAYS of op-
pO''Ihity no PROCESS was made. In
s oJ absence OF any tribunal authori1-
~ 10 settle disputes between the
tbn : workers and their EMPLOYERS
.%e FEDERAL government then vol,,n,
az, oa!!ly proposed the creation Of
+ 1a,'onaI commission before which
in nv W. disputes might be settled Justly
IN IL sne light of full information and
SEA- aS'ordance with the best exnres-
st o.a 81 our modern civilization In
forca VI contemplating the resort of
siteHin ~ anticipated the very oppo-
r. o,, Industrial peace with instico
NY man concerned.
"Trst Involuntary Servitude
ssrvitn n,IaG OF aiming at Involuntary
refo ,'0ae' to which You inexcusably
MINI ,' TN. sne government asked the
lies ~ workers to resume their activi-
\ need ~ ~ ,esponse to manifest public
3nder tb precisely the same wages and
q tbo.o o"e some working conditions
Drorkines o under which they had. been
years T TpIn'entedly for the last two
mine vor nose who spoke for the
sal TIN YlNefS refused such n nrono-
to refnue e'e Is Is no dispute of the right
spond, 'I sns Since they declined to : re. e.
are eno and since it is believed 4 there
in. o.. =" men who lnvn AZ