Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-20
ROOSEVELT
WOULDAV YER r
r. r. STRIKES
STRINGENT LAWS MAY CAUSE
INDUSTRIAL TROUBLE
INTERSTATE COMMISSION TOLD
TO BE 3EADY
President Fears Reduction Of Pay and
Discharge Of Men VIII Result In
Fight Between Corporations
and Labor Unions
By Associated Psess.

BY Associated Psess-
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Serious in
dustrial disputes in prospect were In
the mind of President Roosevelt when
he wrote a letter to the interstate conf
merce commission yesterday, wnlcn was
made public today. He says tnat IN
formation has reached him that on ac-
count of the enactment of drastic laws
nv congress and by the various state
legislatures, it is regarded as necessary
nv railroad companies to reduce the pay
OF employees.
He points out that under the law
either party may demand the services
Of the chairman of the interstate COM
noerce commission, and of the commits
sioner of labor as board or conclila-
tion.
He suggests. therefore, that the inter
state commerce commission make sucn
an investigation as will enable IL TO
furnish data concerning wage conui~
tions on various railroads that may re-
late directly or indirectly to the posi-
bic impending controversy
The text of the presidents letter foi-
lows:
mission: ;,
II am informed that a number of rail-
road companies have served notice or a
proposed reduction of wages on their
employees. One of them, the Louisville
& Nashville, in announcing the reouc-
ton, states that the drastic laws IN
trnical to the interests of the railroads
that have in the past year or two peee
enacted by congress and the state leg
islatures are largely or chiefly respon-
siple for the conditions requiring the
reduction.
Fears Industrial Disputes
Under such circumstances it.is pos
sible the public may soon be confronted
by serious industrial disputes, and the
law provides that in such case either
rarity may demand the services OIL your
chairman and of the commissioner OF
labor as a. board of mediation and con-
citation.
These reductions in wages may be
warranted, or they may not. As to this
the public, which is a party, can form
no Judgment without a more complete
knowledge of the essential facts and
real merits of the case than it now has
or than 1t can possibly obtain from the
special pleadings certain TO be put forth
by each side in case their dispute
should bring about serious interruption
TO traffic.
II the feuuCLlOn III WdSto 10 dAS W
natural causes, the loss of business be-
ing such that the burden should be, and
is, equitably distributed between CAPT.
talist and wage workers, the public and
congress should know 1t, and If II Is
caused by misconduct in the past finan'
cial or other operations of any railroad
then everybody should know it, espe'
ciaIly II the execute of unfriendly legis
1ation is advanced as a method of COW
ering up past business misconduct by
the railroad managers or as Justif1ca-
ton for failure to treat fairly the wage
earning employees of the company.
Moreover, an industrial conflict be-
tween a railroad corporation and its
employees offers peculiar opportunities
tc any small number of evil disposed
persons to destroy life and property and
fon1ent public disorder.
To Preserve Peace
''Of course, if life, property and pub
lie order are endangered, prompt and
drastic measures for their protection
becomes the first plain duty. All other
duties then become subordinate to the
preservation of the public peace. and
the real merits of the original contro-
versy are necessarily lost from view
This vital consideration should be ever
kept in mind by all law abiding and
far sighted members of labor organiza'
tions.
1T is sincerely to be hoped, therefore
that any wage controversy may rise
between the railroads and their EN-
pioyes may find peaceful solution
through the methods of Cancellation and
arbitration already provided for by con-
gress which have proven so effective
during the past year.
ITO this end the commission should
be In a position to have available fol
any board of Cancellation or arbitration
relevant data pertaining to such car,
riers as may become involved in In.
dustfial disputes. Should conciliationi
fail to effect a settlement, and arbitra.
ton be rejected, accurate information
should be available in order to develop
a properly Informed public opinion.
Il therefore ask vow tn reeLe such in,
vestigation both of your records anC
by any means at your command as will
enable yor to furnish data concerning
such condition. obtaining on the Louis
vile & Nashville and any other roads
as may relate, directly or indirectly, t,
the real merits of a possible impendin.
controversy.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
-
ENGLAND AND UNITED STATES