Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-10
IN LABOR CIRCLES
O.,

The day Of the big railroad strikes has
passed" said prominent labor official re-
Gently In a public address in Pittsburs.
Perhaps this view is too optimistic, but
the developments of the last few days In
that city have, It Is stated, strengthened
the faith of those who believe Cancellation
as the best method Of avoiding Industrial
conflicts.
An authority in speaking OF the matter
recently said
When all the circumstances are con-
sidered the recent peaceful adjustment of
the differences between the western rail-
roads and their employees was the greatest
victory for cancellation ever accomplished
since the organizations of labor became
powerful factors in Industrial life.
while Interstate Commissioner Knapp
and Labor Commissioner NELL are entitled
to the credit of smoothing out the differ
ences, such an achievement would not have
been possible had it not been for the spirit
Of fairness and moderation shown by the
leaders on both sides of the question.
1t was an emergency which called for
big men. and when the final point was
reached 1t was found that neither the rail-
road managers nor the leaders of the work
ngmen were lacking in this respect.
"A few years ago it would have been i'm
possible. under similar circumstances, to
avoid a strike. In the early days of the
railroad brotherhoods many or the man
ayers had to be shown and the employees
were more ready to show the managers
than they are today. Even as conservative
an organization as the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers had to strike Its
way to recognition.
Through years Of negotiations the rail-
road managers and the leaders Of the
brotherhoods have broadened until each
side has q respect for the rights of the
other. Railroad mergers have strength
ened the position of the managers, while
organization has done the same for the en-
ployes. In spite of this the liberation ex-
hfbited In the recent conferences showed
that neither side had developed that ar
bitrary spirit which so often accompanies
unusual power.
lone OF the weaknesses of orga nized
labor is this abuse OF power. 1t frequently
happens that a little success is dangerous
to union. The heads of its leaders are
turned, and II they do not always advo-
cate measures more or less tyrannical they
at least do nothing to check such abuses
until the inevitable clash comes and they
are forced to take q backward step.
with employers the same is true. Many
Of them fear the nominations of labor
unions and do AL in their power to crush
out organization among their employees. It
Is the same abuse Of power, and the
greater the abuse the fercer will be the
fight when 1t comes.
I'm the controversy Just ended between
the railroads and their employees the inter-
ests Of the general public entered to a
greater extent than in most industrial dis
puteS. NO QOuDt tnat FACTOR mad much TO
do with influencing an amicable settlement t,
but 1t does not detract from the credit due
the leaders on both sides. There have
been Industrial conflicts before in which
the public was vitality interested, and
neither side regarded 1t for a moment
The Importance of the settlement Just
effected can be seen when the magnitude
Of the movement is considered. Never In
the history OF the railroads or of the or
ganization involved was similar move
ment attempted. In the past the railroads
have dealt with committees of their own
employees. each system handling its own
affairs. While strikes have been uncom-
mon under that system, even were one
ordered it would have been confined to one
system and to one class of employees.
I'm this controversy two organizations
were banded together and the demands
were presented at the same time to prac-
tically every railroad in the west. A strike
under those circumstances would have
been OF such a magnitude that 1t might
well have startled the entire country.
THE employees were fully conscious of
their power under the combination. Many
who watched the developments closely
never seriously believed there would be a
strike, because of the past record of the
unions involved.
1.-The fact remains that at one time there
was serious danger Of a strike, for the
employees were more determined In this
movement than they ever were In any con-
troversy with their employers. There is