Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-19
SWEEPING PROBE


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 numbers and responsible for rall-
way management or powerful IN num-
bers and constituting the necessary
forces in railroad operation, shall DE
permitted TO choose q course which i'm
perils public welfare. Neither organi-
cations of employers nor > working
mems unions may escape RESPONSE
hility. When related to a public sery-
ice the mere fact of organization
magnifies that responsibility and pub
lie interest transcends that Of either
grouped capital or organized labor.
Says Freedom Is Menaced
Another Development is so signifi-
cant that the hardships of the moment
may well be endured to rivet popular
attention to the necessary settlements.
1t is fundamental to all freedom that
all men have unquestioned rights to
lawful pursuits, to work n 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 communities the federal authori-
ties have winked at these violations
until liberty is a mockery and the
law a matter of community contempt.
1t is fair to say that the great mass
of organized workmen do not approve
but they seem helpless to hinder.
These conditions cannOt remain in free
America. If free men cannot toll ac-
cording to their own lawful choosing,
all Il constitutional guarantees born
of democracy are surrendered to
mobracy and the freedom of a hun
dred millions is surrendered to the
small minority which would have no
law.
Would Invoke Laws
at 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. There are
statutes f%orbidding conspiracy to
hinder interstate commerce. There
are laws to assure the highest possible
safety in railway service. 1t is my
purpose to invoke these laws. civil
and criminal, against all offenders
alike.
The legal safeguarding against like
menaces in the future must be worked
out when no passion sways, when no
prejudice influences, when the whole
problem may be appraised, and the
public welfare may be asserted against
any and every interest which assumes
authority beyond that of the govern
ment itself. One specific thing / must
ask at your hands at the earliest pos
sible moment. There is pending a bill
to provide for the better protection of
aliens and for the enforcement of their
treaty rights. It is a measure, in
short. to create a jurisdiction for the
federal courts through which the ma
tiOnal government will have appropri-
ate power to protect aliens in the
rights secured to them under treaties
and to deal with crimes which affect
our foreign relations.
"The matter has been before con-
gress on many previous occasions.
President Tyler in his first annual mes
same advised congress that inasmuch
as the government is charged with
the maintenance of peace and the pre-
servation of amicable relations with
the nations of the earth. it ought to
possess without question all the rea-
sonable and proper means of maintain
ing the one and preserving the other
Government Is PowerIess
president Harrison asked for the
same bestowal of jurisdiction. having
encountered deep embarrassment
which grew out Of the lynching of II
aliens in New Orleans in 1891. Presi-
dent Mckinley. dealing with a like
problem in 1899. asked the comforting
upon federal courts jurisdiction in that
class of international cases where the
ultimate responsibility of the federal
government may be involved. Presi-
dent Roosevelt uttered a like request
to congress in 1906, and President Taft
pointed out the defect in the present
federal jurisdiction when he made his
inaugural address in 1909.
IF we would promise. we must put
ourselves in a position to perform our
promises. We cannot permit the pos
sible failure Of justice due to local
government to expose us to the risk
of war which might be avoided if fed
eral jurisdiction were assured by suit
able legislation by congress.
Refers to Herrin Massacre
MY renewal of this official made
recommendation is impelled by q pitia-
bic sense of federal impotence to deal
with the shocking crime at Herrin, ILL.,.
which so recently shamed and Mortified
the country. In that butchery of hu-
man beings, wrought in madness, it is
alleged that two aliens were murdered
jllS act adds to the outraged sense of
American justice and humiliation which
hes IN the federal governments con
fessed lack of authority to punish that
unalterable crime.
Had it happened in any other land
than our own. and the wrath of right
eous justice were not effectively ex-
pressed we should have pitied the civil
~lization that would tolerate and sor-
rowed for the government unwilling or
unable. to mete out just punishment.
II have felt the deep current of pop
ular resentment that the federal gov
" umert has not sought to efface this
blot from our national shield, that the
federal government has been tolerant
of the mockery Of local inquiry and the
failure Of justice in LIMOS. 1t is a
regrettable truth that the federal gov
eminent cannot act Under the law.
But the bestowal Of he jurisdiction
necessary to enable federal courts to
act appropriately will open the way to
punish barbarity and butchery at Her
rim or elsewhere. no matter in whose
name or for what purpose the insuffer-
able outrage is committed.
Citizens and Mob Rule
1T is deplOrable that there are or
can be American communities where
even these are citizens, not to speak
of public officials. who believe mob
warfare is admissible to cure any sit
nNfar =, Il I--.~, xL.k