The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-05-29
SHALL STRIKES
IMPERIL THE NATION?

Borrowing from the thought of
Lincoln, as expressed at Gettysburg
more than quarters of century
ago, it may now be said
Eight score and five years ago
our fathers brought forth on this
continent a new nation, con-
ceived in liberty, and dedicated to
the proposition that all men are
created equal.
Then it was the crisis of a great
civil war-now it is the crisis of totali-
tartan threat from without, and labor
strife within our own borders, that is
testing whether that nation, or any
nation so conceived and so dedicated,
can long endure"
In these crucial days when the fate
of our nation hangs in the balance,
when millions of people in Europe have
already been deprived of liberty of
thought and action, and when the sur
viving remnants Of democracy are
fighting desperately for self preserva-
ton, small minority in the United
States is permitted to wreak havoc
with the national program of indus
trial production of war materials, vital
to defense and aid to Britain.
If Hitler were, at the moment,
directing the affairs of the United
States in his own interests, he
could ask no greater show of SYM
pathy and cooperation than is now
being evidenced by the numerous
strikes in essential defense indus
tries, the violence associated with
the Bethlehem and the Interna-
tiOnal Harvester strikes, the in >
ternal dissention in the ranks of
organized labor and the revela-
tons of racketeering methods used
in collecting exOrbitant initiation
fees and dues in connection with
construction work on government
projects.
If Nazi, Fascist and Communist
hirelings were seeking a way to
weaken this nation in its determined
course to safeguard itself from ag-
gression and also to give all possible
aid to Britain and the other embattled
democracies, they could pursue no
more effective course than to foment
the disunity being evidenced by strikes
in defense industries, or in the produc-
ton of materials necessary to the
steady maximum output of these in
dustries.
But it is not Hitler, Mussolini or
Stain who is directing the course of
this nation-nor are Nazi, Fascist or
Communist agents or sympathizers
assumed to have voice of authority
in either of the antagonistic labor or
CARNATIONS.
1t is President Franklin D. Roose-
welt who is the executive head of this
nation and also commander in chief of
its military forces.
A recent statement by President
Roosevelt bears repeating, for the en-
phasis it merits:
"The determination of America
must not be obstructed by
unnecessary strikes of workers, by
shOrt-sighted management, or by
deliberate sabotage. Let
me make it clear that the nation
is calling for the sacrifice of some
privileges but not for the sacrifice
of fundamental rights. That kind
of sacrifice is for the common ma
tiOnal protection and welfare; for
our defense against the most
ruthless brutality in history; for
the ultimate victory of way of
life now so violently menaced."
And President Roosevelt also said:
"Wise labor leaders and wise business
managers will realize how necessary
it is to their own existence to make
common sacrifices for this great COM
mon cause"
Germany has no labor unions. Rus
STA has no labor unions. Italy has no
labor unions. The privilege of groups
to organize and bargain collectively,
and the Fright" to strike, are accorded
only to people who are adjudged capa-
BILE of self government and who evil
dence willingness to proceed, in or
derby manner, to exercise their privi-
leges and rights under the law.
The time is again at hand for every
American, in whatever capacity he
may serve, to at least temporarily put
pickering, greed and self interest in
the background and to once more be-
come dedicated to the great task that
lies before us and to highly
resolve that this nation, under God