The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-10-01

The landlords received their
rents; the elevator men will re-
ceiye their wages; the union will
receive its dues; and the WLB is a
government agency on the way out
anyhow. The real sufferers were
not parties TO the strike. They
were the residents OF the struck
buildings: the businesses that could
not operate competently: the en-
ployes who had 10 climb 10 or 20
stories to the offices and shops;
the delivery men who could not de-
liver. Daily estimates OF costs TO
the public range from ss,000,000 TO
s25. 000. 900. do not know how such
figures are reached; suffice IL to
say that they were large, irksome
and unnecessary.
What protection does the public
have against these private deci-
sions OF such broad consequences?
None whatsoever. The union has
the right to call strike. The men
have the right TO strike. The work.
ers have the right TO picket. The
property-owners have the right not
to settle. Only the public has no
rights. Only the rent-payers have
no rights. Only mothers sending
their children TO school or going to
the store for groceries have no
rights. 1t is a public policy OF the
people be damned-and that Is the
law as 1t stands.
II seems ridiculous that Amer
leans will tolerate this anarchy
much longer. l told my own eleva-
tor men that II they struck In our
building, would organize the resi-
dents into a house committee to
run the elevators. They told me
that the union. the owners and the
insurance companies would pre-
vent that. They said, and what they
told me is substantially true, tina;
in the event OF a srike, the eleva-
tors would be lowered to the cellar
floor and locked. And in our build
ing a tenant would have to climb
twelve stories to reach the top
floor. No child should be permit
ted to do that kind OF climbing I'M
der any circumstances. Yet, unless
the city a liberties operated an ell
eyator in such a building. the ten
ants would be helpless to protect
their families.
No organization OF private per
sons should pc permitted to exer
else so much power over the lives
OF an entire community. l do not
even raise the question OF the vir'
tues OF the issues on one side or the
other. Let us say that the union Is
100 per cent right. It nonetheless
should not be permitted to cause
a general strike or to imperil the
city. In a city like New York, II
the subway workers, the electricity
and gas workers. the telephone op'
orators, should go on strike. the
suffering OF the people would be
equally great. and In no instance
would the losses to the direct par
ties to the issue be consequential.
When It was feared tha. Hitler
might bomb New York the citizenl
organized themselves into afraid
wardens to meet the menace
House committees. block commit
tees and neighborhood committees
were quickly modified to provide
funds and TO establish the neces
sary centers for these services. II
labor wars continue TO imperil the
population of cities which can only
continue their normal life IL GER
tain services are provided. the citi
zens will have to organize to meet
the dangers. A mans first public
duty is to care for the safety OF his
family. and II they are endangered
by any cause and public officials
are negligent IN establishing serv
ices to provide the continuance OF
these services, then the citizens
must organize TO do II themselves
and they will so organize when they
realize the magnitude OF the dan
ger.
Vigilantismi Sure, Eternal vigil.
ance IS the price of liberty. & -.