The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-20
Big Stick" Raised
To Prevent Clash
On Wage Decrease

President RooseveIrs letter to the r.
terstate Commerce Commission direct
ing that body to use every effort TO
prevent clashes between railroads and
their employees over wages. is regarded
as simply another chapter In the policy
outlined By his recent message to Con
gress
In that message the President more
vigorously than ever declared his att
tude toward the ''malefactors Of great
wealth IN his letter to the Interstate
Commission he points out that certain
railroads allege that wage reductions
are made necessary on account Of
dfasIlc laws lnimical to the inter ests
Of railroads"
The President meuacingIv suggests
that these reductions NAV have been
made necessary by laws, or thew NAV
not: the laws may be used as an excuse
1oc reductions which really were made
necessary because of past financial mis-
eonduct by men in financial authority.
Prepare for Battle. {
This is construed, OF course, as in
dicaurg a purpose to make things dis
agreeable, II there is any excuse for so
doinS, for any road which undertakes
sweeping reductions Of wages. The mar
ticular reference quoted was to the
Louisville and Nashville That road has
been especially bitter IN its antagonism.
not only TO the Hepburn law. but to the
employers liability and arbitration acts
which wore both declared unconstitu-
tlonal in cases In which this road was a
party. It is well known that the Prssi-
dents advisers are inCensed against the
managers OF this road because of their
bitterness toward him and toward the
legislation he has favored.
III is further known thar the of4ssv-{1Ts
and Nashville finances, from the time
the road was cOrnered by John w
Gates and atterward sold to a syndicate
or powerful interests, are alluded to in
the Presidents suggestion of possible
financial misconduct. In short, the let
ter is taken to be a threat OF an expO-
sition OF the financial conduct OF that
property IN the event that excuse is
President Determined.
The tone adopted. in discussing the
threatened wage reductions. by officials
who nave conferred with tho President
about these matters, is such as to make
very apparent the Presidents deterni-
nation to use the power and influence
OF his position 10 prevent wage reduc-
tions If he can do So
He is not disposed. his conhdanTs. say.
to impose any hardship on the roads
which are honest in the claim that they
cannot maintain the wages at present
scales; but he does propose tnat there
shall be no general or concerted ar
rangement for reductions on roads
which do not need TO adopt this course.
simply because some other lines find
themselves compelled somewhat TO re-
trench.
The political effects OF the letter are
OF course. given much attention. Like
every other emanatiOn from the White
House nowadays. It is credited with
probably much moro political weight
than its writer intended II should have
II is regarded by the Taft people as
another olive branch rendered TO labor,
and certain 20 help Taft: and On the
other hand, people who insist that the
President viii be nominated again in
spite Of himself declare that this letter
adds to the probability OF this result.