The labor world., 1922-07-29
MAKING A BIG NOISE.

stand how anyone can prevent tAc
coal companies from rc-shipping coal
down the lakes when there is such
dire need of it in the Northwest. 1t
praises Senator Kellogg 5 "blgncss
of heart for requesting the Duluth
Chamber of Commerce 'to stop fur
ther shipments of coal down the lakes
that was sent to Duluth and Superior
during the present season for North
west use,' but it calls upon him to
point out way how it may be done.
The morning paper has taken for
granted that the state is without au-
thority to prevent the shipment of the
coal in question. It believes with Ivan
Bowen of the railroad and warehouse
commission that the companies own
ing the coal on the docks in Duluth
have a legal right to do anything
with their property that they please
and "the more than o,0oo,n 900 people
of the Narth Star State must twlrl
their thumbs and confess their impo
tency.'
Of course that is bold way of
stating the situation, but it expresses
the point Of view Of the property IN
terests admirably. Personal rights may
be taken away with impunity, but
private property is as sacred as the
, Diety. That is, some private property
is sacred, but not all of it.
If a barn is unsightly or house
unsafe it may be wrecked by the
state. If roadway is needed for the
common good property through which
it is to run may be taken by the state
and compensation awarded by the
states own courts.
There is a lot Of property people
can not do with as they please. They
can not maintain a nuisance or en-
danger the public health or lives OF
the people with property. Coal in Min
nesota ought to come within the class
of property that is subject to the
states power to regulate.
Coal is as necessary to life and COM
fort in this state as is the soil. With
\ out it industries would stop; produc-
/ Hon would cease; homes would be cold,
and great physical suffering wouli
4 follow, even to death. Without coal
Minnesota would be unfit for present
day habitation. It is the heart of our
\ Industrial and social life. We must
have it to maintain our schools and
8public buildings; to provide comfort,
& safety and life.
~ With such understanding of the ne
cessity of coal for fuel in Minnesota,
K can anyone question the right of the
Sstate to prevent the shipping Of coal
yToutside Of it's borders when we are
" threatened with a shortage during the
coming winter that may result i'll Grip
pling life and industry in the entire
, Northwest.
r.> If the governor believes that he
1 lacks the power to attach and held
the coal that is here, there are the
/. courts to which he can appeal for re-
lief. The injunction is mighty use
full weapon to use against the work.
I ingmen during strikes to restrain them
y from doing things the law ordinarily
gives them the right to do. 1t ought
to be a pretty good weapon to use
against coal during times like the
present where the loss to the people
may be irreparablc. Governor Pr1us
could have directed the attorney gen
u eral to at least try out the issue i'll
the courts Of equity: But he didn t.
ID He was too busy at other things OF
less Importance. He was out of the
state talking against socialism, and
when he returned and learned the
situation he rushed to Washington to
urge the president to do something
he could have done himself right here
at home. But it was then too Lac:
+, The coal was gone, and there was
4 nothing left for him to do but to make
a big noise.
E Now comes Senator Kellogg wit?
'jo more noise and the News Tribune very
!. properly asks him to point out how tc
Z prevent "the handling of property
4 belonging to other people or Interests
IL in any manner that they may elect t.
.R handle it, Senator Kellogg, c1
A course, will not be any more specific
III than he has been. He has no rencd.
II except to have the Duluth Chamber
Il, Of Commerce buy nonunion coal from
55 West Virginia, the cost of whicl
would be prohibitive here on account
M Of the long rail haul and excessive
freight rates.
I'LL +, However, we have better remedy
v Il Try the injunction, if it is not to'
HI late. If it's good to restrain labor i
ought to be- good to stop coal .a<1;...,l@ II; ..,l