The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-04-20
THE RIGHT TO WORK.

by the Constitution of the United
States are freedom, protection of ones
property and the right of an Individual
to pursue his normal course of living,
which means he has a perfect right to
work and support himself and his fam
lily. In doing so he is entitled to the
full protection of the laws of the
county, State and if necessary, the
Federal Government.
Some of these rights were violated
two years ago when workers entered
the factories of employers unlawfully
and used the "sit-down" strike rather
effectively. President Roosevelt stood
idly by. Governor Murphy, Michigan,
at that time. also stood idly by and
forgot entirely the principles of hui
man freedom. ',"
Eventually the Supreme Court of
the United States came along and out
lawed such occupation of other peo-
pies property, but not before great
damage had been done.
The same principle is involved on
much smaller scale in this county, and
if not subdued by the legally delegated
authorities, in future years will reflect
on American ideals, and be blot on
law and order in this county.
There are some two hundred blum
nous coal miners in the vicinity of
Grantsville who are satisfied they have
a job, are earning an honest living and
want to be let alone and be permitted
to continue work. These men told their
employers so, and as a result the en-
ployers are operating their mines and
are giving these two hundred people
steady employment at living wage.
These mines are located in an unor-
gained field and the men employed do
not belong to any union.
They were going about the business
in the usual orderly manner when
union miners throughout the Appa-
lachian region refused to go back to
their work on account of some wage
agreement which had not been signed
by the owners and operators of the
mines of the region.
Because they are not at work union
miners of Allegany county and from
other sections "invade" Garrett county
and endeavor to keep the unorganized
miners from working. Why? They
have no right to do so.
An individual has perfect right to
work if he wants to do so, and anybody
or any organization that transgresses
upon that right of a free individual,
that person or that organization has
overstepped its authority.
Within the past few days pickets
have gathered by the hundred in an
endeavor to stop the free workers.
Stones have been thrown and some Of
the men struck by the missiles. The
local miners sought the protection of
the law. Two weeks ago they got that
protection from States Attorney Neil
C. Fraley, who advised the Invaders"
to leave the county and not modest the
Garrett county workers. Mr.. Fraley is
now in hospital, unable to back the
stand he took at the outset of the Gin
vasion."
On Tuesday of this week they asked
for protection from the local officers.
People of Grantsville are saying "they
didn't get it from Sheriff Owens, who
apparently leaned in favor Of the pick
cts, but that the State Police were do
ing their duty"
Wednesday, with additional help
from the State police, there was no
disorder. Sheriff Owens, however,
states he was "trying to avert trou-
ble."
The situation is still full of dyna-
mite. Grantsville people (and they are
thoroughly aw-abiding) are aroused
and feel that the invasion of their
usual peaceful community is unwar
ranted and they are determined to as
sist the unorganized workers against
union pickets and keep the mines go
ing.
Peace should be restored to that
community, if it takes the National
guard to do it. The State of Maryland
can hardly be protector of the rights
of its citizens and permit such mess
to continue. The State cannot readily