The Topeka state journal., 1908-03-13
RAILROAD NEWS.
a Right Thing Done in the
Wrong Way.
characterization Of Presidents
Action by Trade Paper.
REST BADLY NEEDED.
Disquieting Methods at This
Time Are Injurious.
O1ner~ Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.
REST BADLY NEEDED

a4,er W,natever the merits of the presi-
uents action in requesting the inter-
S.ale commerce commission to investi-
sale the relations between the rail-
roads and their employees" SAYS the
teeW ork Journal of Commerce edi-
lorialiy, the sensational manner in
Mnicn IL has been done threatens to
prove hlghly disturbing. A right thing
uone IN wrong way might in some
instances be better left undone With
the best of intentions, but with strange
unW1sdom. Mr.. Roosevelt too often Sc
iects the most disquieting methods for
accomplishing his ends. In this in
stance he seems to entirely forget that
his patient is now in highly sensitive
condition, and that repeated ice baths
are not the best sort Of treatment for
patient that is already suffering
from exhaustion and needs rest and
noninterference more than anything
else. o
"The Inevitable effect of the presi-
dents action will be to make labor
more unwilling than ever to accept its
not be escaped after a panic 1t is not
yet forgotten that the country is pass
ing through crisis brought on by
gross extrayagance in expenditures on
account OF both capital and living ex-
penses In 1907 prices rose to a pro-
h1Dlt1Ve height; credit collapsed: the
panic came; enterprise stopped: con-
sumption declined; economy became
1mperatlve;- and in consequence costs
or production in all lines of industry
must now return to the normal in Or
der to permit of a healthy resumption
OF business Such a course in due sea-
son means a reduced cost of living
which In turn would permit decline
In wages as the latter rose in pur-
chasing power. But labor leaders re-
1use to recognize the laws of business,
and through their unions insist upon
maintaining the old rate Of wages; ig-
nor1ng the fact that since there is less
Work TO be done when costs are pro-
h1bitive, many hands must necessarily
be thrown out of employment. Upon
the unions themselves the responsible
ity for the large number of unemploy-
ed must be chiefly placed. Many of the
idle have been literally forced out by
their fellows who, holding their own
jobs, refuse to share the work that
could be had at moderate concessions
The unions, however, are not the only
ones working under such falIacious
ideas. The great industrial trusts have
also fallen into the. sdelusion that the
only way to recover from depression
is to curtail production; encourage
| idleness; make business as expensive
as possible and force the public to pay
| more than it can afford for what it
gets.
"This is not the usual method by
which the individuals or nations save
| money or accumulate wealth; but it is
one Ol the new QOClIlnoS IlldC mas Doen
| universally applied and has yet to
work out its evil consequences. APP
parently, We have drifted far away
from the idea that the largest product
possible at the best price possible is
better policy than the smallest product
possible at the highest price possible.
The facts concerning the railroads
could easily have been obtained in a
manner less disturbing to confidence.
Each intelligent person understands
that the railroads are financially in a
strained condition, and compelled to
vastly increase their facilities at a time
when profits are diminishing and pro-
per financial arrangements are not
easy of accomplishment. Owing to
advances in wages, costs Of operation
have increased enormously, while
earnings show a persistent decline In
November the roads reporting showed
an increase of $4, 800, 600, or 3.6 per cent
in gross earnings, but fall Of Sc, ,900,-
600, or Is per cent in net earnings.
December returns, gross and net, when