The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1937-06-24
CALL IT FASCIsM, COMMUNISM. So

CALL IT FASCISM, COMMUNISM, So
cialism or any other "ism" that happens to
mean bad business to you, the fact that
1923 strikes have broken out in this coun- \
try in seven months cannot be passed over
as lust another sign of recovery"
Strikes in past years have been largely
allow workmen shorter hours They have
played an important part in raising the
standard of living of the working class and
generally were directed against group of
employers whose policies in regard to labor
were subject to censure.
1t appears that the working mans
status is of minor Importance in the ma
jority of current strikes, called instead to
force recognition of union which in many
cases is as little wanted by the majority of
workers as by the employer. Polls of work
ers have repeatedly shown large minorities
and in many cases majorities unfavorable
to the union, even after coercive methods
have been employed to get union members.
Policies of the federal government con-
tributed much to the strike situation, yet
federal authorities have been slow to act.
Governors and minor officials have played
politics while willing workers were forced
into idleness by ambitious promoters. Au-
thorities have in many cases bowed to the
Will VI dSlCdCOIS W pISVSuG VIOiSIlCS WHICH,
only their dallying created the situations of
which they later became afraid.
Few will question the right of laborers
to organize. It is their privilege to seek the
best wage and hour conditions possible, by
peaceful means. But labor dictatorship is
as much to be feared in this country as
political or military dictatorship. The labor
unions must be held accountable for their
acts and liable in their contracts. If demo-
cracy is to be maintained the worker who
prefers to remain free lance must be &C
corded that privilege.
1T HAPPENED IN FRANKLIN JUNE
10, but it has happened in about every COM
munity at one time or another, that road
show sufficiently vain to advertise as "big
circus" sought and obtained the sponsorship
of local group and then failed to live up to
it's agreements.
Struggling little tent shows have had a
bad time of it since the movie and the motor
car became popular and people in country
towns have developed a taste for more
swank entertainment than is provided by
the crude travelling troupes.
In many cases they have sought "co-
operative" deals, sometimes with newspap-
ers, sometimes with civic groups, in an eff
fort to obtain free publicity and advertis-
ing. Usually they have received priceless
help, only to disappoint the crowds and the
sponsors with miserable imitation of cir
Gus.
There are of course some companies
that are legitimate and fulfill their part of
the bargain but the best shows usually do
not have to hunt out local officers for sup
port; they get the backing of the state or
national organization who In turn recon-
mend them to local chapters.
The experience of civic groups with
outside shows is not unlike that of news
papers with special promotion" advertising
men who visit the state periodically. The
local sponsor generally is left with the grief
while the promoter gets away with the cash.
BIDS WERE CALLED FOR THIS
week by the state highway department on
the grading, stabilized base and culverts for
1914 mile stretch on highway II in Stearns
county, between Belgrade and Elrosa. While
any improvement to the American Highway
is appreciated by cities everywhere on the
route, we hope the department has not lost
sight of the fact that the road between Red
wood Falls and Rowena and Sanborn and
Window are vital parts of this through
route to the lakes and certainly should not
be neglected longer. ~.
IT is ESTIMATED THAT THERE
are more than 100000 federal employees
who are exempt from state income taxes and
nearly 100000 employees of states, coun-
ties, and municipalities who are not requir-
ed to pay federal income taxes. No reason
has ever been given that justifes the prac-
tice. If one wage Garner is entitled to pay
tax, all who come within the classification
are entitled to pay the same tax. The salar-
les of both of these classes, as rule, are in
line with the compensation being received
by others in other lines of business for the
same service-Heron Lake News.