The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-20
Roosevelt Suggests That Com merce Commission Prepare Data on Railroad
 Conditions.
FOR USE IN CANCELLATION
President Declares Public, Confronted by Serious Industrial Dispute, Should Know the Essen-
 tial Facts.

Washington, Feb. l9.-Serlous lnuus- trial disputes in prospect were in the mind of President Roosevelt when he wrote letter to the Interstate Con- merce commission yesterday. This let ter was made public to-day. In it the president says information has reach ed him that on account of the enact ment of drastic laws by the congress aand by various state legislatures, it is regarded as necessary by railroad com panies 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 commerce commission and of the commissioner of labor as a board of conciliation. He sug- gests, therefore, that the interstate commerce commission make such an investigation as will enable it to furnish data concerning wage conditions on various railroads as may relate, directly or indirectly, to the possibly impending controversy.
 The full text of the presidents letter follows:
 The White House,
 Washington, Fep., IS, 1908. To the Interstate Commerce Commits
 sion:
 I am informed that number of rail- road companies have served notice of a proposed reduction of wages on their employees One of them, the Louisville and Nashville, in announcing the re- duction states that "the drastic laws inimical to the interests of the rail- roads that have in the past year or two been enacted by congress and the state legislatures" are largely or chiefly re- sponsibe for the conditions requiring the reduction.
 Under such circumstances it is possi- ble that the public may soon be con fronted by serious industrial disputes, and the law provides that in such case either party may demand the services of your chairman and of the commls- sioner of labor as a board of mediation and conciiation These reductions In wages may be warranted, or they may not As to this the public, which is vitally interested 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 it can possibly obtain from the spec, al pleaaings certain to be put forth by each side in case their dispute should bring about serious interrup- ton to traffic. If the reduction in wages is due to natural causes, the loss of business being such that the burden should be, and is, equitably distributed between capital and wage workers, the public should know it. If it is caused by legislation the public and congress should know it ana if it is caused by misconduct in the past financial or oth- CT operations of any railroad, then everybody should know it, especially Ii the excuse of unfricndiy legislation is advanced as method of covering up past business misconduct by the rail- road managers, or as justification for failure to treat fairly the wage earn ing employees of the company.
 Moreover, an industrial conflict be- tween railroad corporation and it's employees offers peculiar opportunities ito any small number of evil disposed persons to destroy life and property and foment pubic disorder Of course, if fife, property and pubic order are en- dangered, prompt and drastic measures for their protection become the first plain duty. All other issues than be- come subordinate to the preservation of the public peace, and the real mer- its-of the original controversy arc nec- essarily lost from view. This vital consideration should be ever kept in mind by all sw-abiding and farsighted members of labor organizations.
 It is sincerely to be hoped therefore, that any wage controversy that may arise between the railroads and their employes may find a peaceful solution through the methods of conciliation and arbitration already provided by congress, which have proven so effect i've during the past year. To this end the commission should be in a position to have available for any board of con, cilistion or arbitration relevant data pertaining to such carriers as may be- cone involved in industrial disputes. Should conciiation fail to effect a set tlement and arbitration be rejected. ac- curate information should be available in order to develop a properly public opinion.
 I. therefore. ask you to make such investigation. both of your records and by any other means at your command as will enable you to furnish data con corning such conditions obtaining on the Louisville & Nashville and any oth- or roads. as may relate directly or in- directly to the real merits of the pos sibly impending controversy
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT.