It cannot sit by and see communities starve.

A point will soon be reached where it must intervene and force resumption of transportation.
"Strikes, however, form one of the modern means of collective bargaining between employer and employees.

They are, in fact, the workmen's final and most effective resource in driving a bargain.
Denied the right to strike, labor unions would be so many wooden cannon at which employers could laugh.

If the employer knew absolutely that the men could not strike, he might offer any terms he pleased.

In wage bargaining the men would not stand on a level footing, but be bound and gagged.
"If, then, the government takes away, or seriously restricts, the right of the men to strike, isn't it bound to step into the breach and readjust the balance between them and the employer, by compelling the employer to pay them fair wages?
There can be no free bargaining if it is known that at a certain point the government will intervene on one side.