, 1922-08-18

their lives to serve a public need
have been cruelty attacked and wound.
ed or killed Men seeking work and
guards attempting to protest lives
and property. even officers of the fed.
oral government have been assaulted,
Inundated and hindered in their
duties Strikers have armed them
selves and gathered in mobs about
railroad shops to offer armed violence
to any mar attempting to go to work.
There fs n state Of lawiessness shock.
ng to every conception OF American
law and order and violating the cher
ishsd guarantees Of American freedom.
At no time has the federal government
been unready or unwilling to give its
support to maintain law and order
and restrain violence. but in no case
has state authority confessed its IN
ability to cope with The situation, and
asked for federal assistance.
PART THIRTEEN.
Under these conditions of hindrancs
and intimidation there has been such
a lack OF care OF motive power that
the deterioration OF locomotives and
the Noncompliance with the safety re-
quirements of tho law. are threaten
ing the breakdown OF transportation.
This very serious is magni-
fled by the millions of losses to fruit
growers and other producers of per-
ishable foodstuffs. and comparable
losses to farmers who depend on trans
portation to market their grains at
harvest time. Even worse II Is hin
dering the transportation OF available
coal when industry is on the verge OF
paralysis because OF a co1l shortage,
and life and heat are menaced by a
coal famine in the great centers of
population. Surely the threatening
conditions must impress the congress
and the country that no body OF men.
whether limited in lumber and re-
sponsibls for railway management, or
powerful IN numbers and constituting
the necessary forces in railroad oper-
alton. shall ne permitted to choose a
course which imperils public welfare.
Neither organizations OF employers
nor working mems union may escape
responsibility. When related to n pub
lice service the mere fact ~ Jrganiza-
tlon magnifies that responsibility and
public interes transcends that of
either grouped capital or organized
labor.
SELN
Another development is SO signifi-
cant that the hardships Of the mo-
ment may well be endured to riyet
popular attention 10 the necessary
settlement. 1t is, fundamental to all
reedom that all men have unques-
tioned rights to lawful pursuits. to
work and to live and choose their
own lawful ways TO happiness. In
these strikes these rights have been
denied by assault and violence, by
armed lawlessness. In many commu-
mites h municipal authorities have
winked at these violations, until lib
erty is a mockery and tho law a mat ,
ter OF community contempt. 1t is fair
to say that the great mass OF organ
lied workmei. 20 not approve u
they seem helpless to hinder. These /
conditions cannot remain in free
America If free men cannot toll &C.
cording to their own lawful choosing,
all our constitutional guarantees born
of democracy are surrendered to mo-
bocracy. nj tho freedom of n hun
dred millions Is surrendered to the
smal minority which would have no
law.
1t is not my thought to ask con.
gress TO deal with these fundamental
problems at this time. No hasty ac-
ton would contribute to the solution
Of the present critical situation.
There is existing law by which to
settle the prevailing disputes. These
are statutes fo%rbidding conspiracy to
hinder interstate commerce. There
are laws to assure the highest posi-.
BILE safety In railway service. 1t is
my purpose to invoke these laws,
civil and criminal. against all offend
ers alike.
PART FIFTEEN.
The legal safeguarding against like
menaces in the future must be
worked out when no passion sways,
when no prejudice influences. when
tho whole problem may be appraised,
and the public welfare may be assert
ed against any and every interest
which authority beyond that
of the government itself. One specific
thing I must ask at your lands at
the earliest possible moment. There
Is pending a bill to provide for the