Evening star., 1937-07-04
BY BERrRAM BENEDICT.

the Government make the
unions obey the law-quit oc-
cupying plants. keeping men
from jobs who want to work, barring
access to the plants? That goes for a
lot Of State Governors, too. Well,
maybe that's only what to expect,
with the politicians all afraid of labor
and its votes. Government always
truckks to the unions What this
country needs today"
THE UNIONS: why doesn't the
Government make the employers obey
the law-bargain collectively with
the workers. quit importing strike
breakers and breaking up picket lines?
That goes for lot Of Mayors Of
cities, too. Well. maybe that's only
what to expect, with the politicians
all afraid Of Big Business and its
money. Government always truckles
to the employers. What this country
needs today"
AS usual, when each side to a
dispute flatly contradicts the other,
neither Is altogether right. When
employers say that the Government
has always knuckled down to labor
they are as wrong as unionists when
these say that the Government has
always knuckled down to capital. Un-
der some Presidents the administra-
ton at Washington has been anti
union. Under other Presidents, the
administration has been pro-union.
Under still other Presidents. the ad-
minlstration has been at times anti
and at other times pro-union.
What Cleveland Did.
Grover Cleveland is receiving en-
thuslastic praise in some quarters
these days for sending Federal troops
TO move the mails in 1894, but it NAV
well be doubted if very many en-
ployers today would expect a Presi--
dent to be as partisan as Cleveland
was then.
In the first place, the strike In 1894
was called because the Pullman Co.
olscharged three workers selected by
the union To protest against a wage
cut. Today practically all EMPLOYERS
agree that their workers, if they are
bona fide employees, have the right to
present grievances.
In the second place, the Pullman Co.
refused to arbitrate the issues. Re-
fusal to arbitrate wages and discharges
would cost company at least some
employer support in 1887.
In the third place the impeding OF
the mails was only incidental to the
rail strike. The mails would have
moved II the railroads had not insisted
on carrying Pullman cars on the
trains. To say that the mails must
always move under all circumstances
Is TO say that no strike may ever be
| called on the railroads and few en-
ployers would go that far today. In
fact, some employers are now pro.
claiming that the right to strike is as
sacred as the right not to strike.
In the fourth place. President
Cleveland. declaring that the trains
must move 80 that the mails might
| move. chose 4 well-knovn railroad
lawyer to prosecute the strikers ir
court on behalf of the Government
An administration today would leave
any prosecution TO the Department O.
Justice or to special aides who at leas
appeared to be neutral
Finally. in sending Federal troop.
into Illinois to enforce the Injunction.
obtained against the strikers, Presiden
Cleveland acted over the opposition
of Gov Altgeld. Most 1897 employ
ers condemn the present Democratic
President for having Haunted Stat,
sovereignty.
What Theodore Roosevelt Did.
| But If Cleveland used Federal troop.
against the unions. Theodore Rooee.
welt was ready to use them agains-
employers. The great anthracite Goa
strike Of 1902 Threatened to cause 6
fuel shortage in Eastern cities wher
Winter came around The miner.
proposed arbitration by a commission
to be appointed by the President. Tht
operators refused.
When the operators remained Oh.
durate. 1T. r." prepared to have thu
mines operated by the United States
Army. The Governor of Pennsylvania
would ask for the troops, who ther
would operate the mines as receivers
protect all men who wanted to work
disregard any orders from the owners
refer court writs to the White House.
With the mines then running ane
coal moving the President would ap.
point his commission. Its finding!
would be enforced by the Army. TIL.
operators got wind Of this perfectl,
illegal and unconstitutional project
As they were probably supposed to, ane
grudgingly consented to arbitration
A Republican President had taken the
side OF labor
Woodrow Wilson began by favorins
the unions. In September, 1913, the
United Mine Workers called a Goa