The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-15
PROCLAMATION
TO STRIKERS
BY HARDING
Laws Must Be Up
held Men ii a v e
Same Right to Work
as Others Have to
Decline to Work

dent Harding in a proclamation
issued at the White House late to-
night directed "all persons to re-
frain from all interference with
the lawful efforts to maintain in
terstate transportation and the
carrying of the United States
mails
In the proclamation which was
issued after a day in which con-
tinued reports had reached the
postofice department of interfer-
ence by railroad strikers with mail
trains. the president invited the
cooperation of ali public authori-
ties. state and municipal. and the
laid of all good citizens" to uphold
the laws and to facilitate those
operations in safety which are es-
sential to life and liberty and the
security of property and our COM
mon public welfare"
The peaceful settlement of con-
troversies between shop craft em-
ployees and carriers, it was stat
ed. Sin accordance with law and
due respect for the established
agencies for such settlement are es-
sential to the securityan we'll be-
ing of our people"
The president. took the position
that men willing to maintain the
operation of railroad trains in order
to transport mail have the same
indisputable right to- work that,
others have to decline to work"
President Harding was occupied,
throughout, the, evening with the
preparation of the proclamation,
delaying his dinner one hour in Or.
der to go over the first transcript.
He returned to the executive Offices
after dinner and remained there
until the proclamation was made
public about 19:49 p. m.
The text of the proclamation fol-
lows:
a proclamation:
Whereas. the United States
railroad labor board is an agency
Of the government, created. by law,
and charged with the duty of ad-
justing disputes between railroad
operators and employers engaged
in interstate commerce. and,
Whereas, the United States
railroad labor board has recently
handed down decisions. one affect
ing the wage Of the shop crafts
employees and the other declaring
the contract system of shop crafts
work with.outside agencies to be
contrary to the interests of the
transportation act. and. therefore,
that sucn PRACTICE must be discon-
tinued: and
Whereas. the shopcraft en-
plosees have elected to discontinue
their work, rather than abide by
the decision rendered. and certain
operators have ignored the decis-
ion ordering the abandonment of
the contract shop practice: and
Whereas. the maintained opera
ton of the railroads in interstate
commerce and the transportation
of United States mails have neces-
stated the employment of men
who choose to accept employment
under the terms Of the decision
and who have the same indisput-
able right to work that others
have to decline to work: and,
whereas. the peaceful settle
ment of controversies in accord
ance with law and due respect for
the esta blished agencies Of such
settlement are essential to the Sc
curity and well being of our peo-
pie:
Now. therefore. I. Warren G..
Harding. president of the United
States. do hereby make proclama-
ton directing all persons to re-,
frain from al! interference with
the lawful efforts to maintain in
terstate transportation and the
CARRYING of the United States
mails.
These activities and the main
tained supremacy Of the law are
the first obligation of the govern
iNent duU du tflS CIltLStiSfiiP VI oeA
country. Therefore. | invite the
cooperation of all public authori-
ties. state and municipal. and the
aid of all good citizens to uphold
the law: and to preserve the pub
lie peace. and TO facilitate these
operations in safety which are es-
sentiai to life and liberty. and the
security of property and our com
mon public welfare.
In witness whereof. have here
unto set nay hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be
affixed.
Done at the city of Washing
ton. this 18th day of July. in the
year of Our Lord. one thousand
nine hundred and twenty-five. and
of the independence of the United
States. the one hundred and forty
seventh.
Warren 6. Harding.
by the president:
Charles f. Hughes.
Secretary of State
Chicago. July \ (By the Asso-
ciated Press).-B. NJ. Jewell.