Evening star., 1944-01-26
Veteran Medical Officer Advocates
Draft Of Capital and Labor.
tn the Editor ~ T1,~

To the Editor Of The Star:
! have been subscriber to your valu-
able paper for many years and have
read with much interest lately the views
OF writers on the labor question and
especially the Presidents suggestion of
drafting labor for the war, and I should
ike to express my own views upon the
subject.
Some such law should be enacted to
prevent strikes, for with proper leeisla-
ton there should be no justifcation for
them, especially in the industries for
tne production OF materials and supplies
ana In transportation necessary for the
successful prosecution Of the war. There
should be compulsory arbitration OF dis
agreements between employers and en-
ployes by boards consisting of equal
numbers Of representatives Of employers
and employees and a like number of rep
resentatiyes Of the Government, one of
whom should be its president. If the
employers and employees could not
agree, the Government representatives
should decide the question. II the de-
clsion should be unsatisfactory. 1t should
be appealed to q central and perma-
nent board Of arbitration or the courts: ::
but in no case should the work be
stopped pending q decision.
In 1899-1901, while on duty in the
Samoan Islands, visited New Zealand
and found there some very advanced
Ideas OF government For instance.
there was no tax on the FIRST 10 acres
; OF land, but there was a graded tax after
that. the rate getting higher as the
number OF acres increased. There was
also law prohibiting strikes. All dis
putes had to be settled by arbitration
and severe penalties were inflicted on
employers and employees who violated
the law.
While was In Auckland, the steve.
uores struck without consulting the
board and they were fined and COM
PEELED to go back to work. There were
several refrigerator ships In the harbor
and great quantity Of mutton on the
wharves, which would spoil in a short
time If not loaded. This would have
been great loss to the owners and to
the country. which depended on its
commerce, especially Its mutton, for its
prosperity. The government took the
stand that the welfare Of the country
should not be jeopardized by a few dis
gruntled strikers. The contention that
1t Is unlawful, to make q man work
against his will does not hold water"
for the country Is dependent on its In.
dustries, farming, mining, manufacture
ing, merchandising and transportation
for its life, welfare and prosperity and
the government should have enough
control over its employers and EMPLOYEES
to see that its needs are supplied. The
government should have at least as
much right in time of war or other oc-
casions. where necessary, to draft capi-
tai and labor for its needs and safety
as 1t has to draft men to fight and die
for its liberties.
Man is not free agent to do as he
pleases when he is associated with other
men. He must have laws to regulate
his conduct toward them. If he is alone,
with no one to interfere, he is a law
unto himself and can do as he pleases,
subject only to the laws OF God and
nature. which he cannot violate without
paying the penalty. Man-made laws
work unjustly in many cases, although
they are supposed to be founded upon
right. When, at last, man goes before
his Maker. he will be judged by right"
the law Of God. There are Ten Com
mandments, which can be reduced to
one: mo one has right to do wrong"
EDWARD M. BLACKWELL,
Commander, M. c., U. S. NJ, Retired,
Discusses mo Change" Excuse
OF Some Taxi Drivers.
To the Editor of The Star:
I have just finished reading the letter
from Taxi Drivers Mother. The ex-
periences she describes are outrageous,
OF course, but do not believe many such
happenings occur. II they do. the drivers
certainly make it up on other patrons.
My experience invariably Is that they