The Penn's Grove record., 1908-02-28
ROOSEVELT MOVES TO
AVERT RAILWAY STRIKE
Asks In.!Nsrate Commerce Com
mission to Intervene.
CAUSE OF DISMISSALS SOUGHT
The President Says He Has Informal
ton That Railway Companies
Propose to Reduce Wages ON
Account of Laws by Congress.

Washington, D. C.-Serious indus
trial disputes in prospect were in the
mind of President Roosevelt when he
wrote a letter to the Interstate Com
merce Commission. He says that in
formation has reached him that on
account of the enactment of dras-
tic laws by Congress and by various
State Legislatures it is regarded as
necessary by 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 Commerce
Commission and of the Commissioner
of Labor as a board of Cancellation.
He suggests, therefore, that the In
terstate 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:
Il am informed that a number of
railroad companies have served no.
tice of a proposed reduction of wages
on their employees. One of them, the
Louisville & Nashville, in announcing
the reduction, states that the dras-
tic laws inimical to the interests of
the railroads that have in the past
year or two been enacted by Congress
and the State Legislatures are large
ly or chiefly responsible for the condi-
tions requiring the reduction.
Under such circumstances it Is
possible that the public may soon be
confronted by serious industrial dis
putes, and the law provides that in
each case either party may demand
the services of your chairman and of
the Commissioner of Labor as a board
of mediation and Cancellation. These
reductions in wages may be warrant
ed. or they may not. AS to this
the public, which is a vitality inter
ested 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 special
~pleadings certain to be put forth by
each side in S their dispute should
bring about serious interruption 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 capitalist and wage worker,
the public should know it. If it is
caused by legislation the public and
Congress should know it, and if it is
caused by misconduct in the past
financial or other operations of any
railroad, then everybody should know
it, especially if the excuse of I'M
friendly legislation is advanced as a
method of covering up past business
misconduct by the railroad managers
or as a justification for failure to
treat fairly the wage earning en-
ployes of the company
Moreover, an industrial conflict
between a railroad corporation and
its employees offers peculiar opportu-
mites to any small number of evil
disposed persons to destroy life and
property and foment public disor-
der. Of course, if life, property and
public order are endangered, prompt
and drastic measures for their pro-
lection become the first plain duty.
All other issues then become subor-
dinate to the preservation of the pub
lie peace, and the real merits of the
original controversy are necessarily
lost from view. This vital considera-
ton should be ever kept in mind by
all law abiding and far sighted mem
bers of labor organizations.
ut is sincerely to be hoped, there
fore, thai any wage controversy that
may arise between the railroads and
their employees may find a peaceful
solution through the methods of con-
Citation and arbitration already pro-
vided by Congress, which have prov
en- so effective during the past year.
To this end the commission should
be in a position to have available for
any board of Cancellation or arbitra-
ton revelant data pertaining to such
carriers as may become involved in
industrial disputes. Should concilia-
ton fail 10 effect a settlement and
arbitration be rejected, accurate in
formation should be available in Or
der to develop a properly informed
public opinion.
Il therefore ask you to make such
Investigation, both of your records
and by any other means at YOU COM
mand, as will enable you to furnish
data concerning such conditions OBJ
tanning on the Louisville & Nashville,
and any other roads, as may relate,
directly or indirectly, to the real mer-
it's of the possibly impending contro-
Versy.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"