The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-04-04
ANY peculiar positions are
there 10 the big government Of
tho United States. but the
/, most unique OF oil, perhaps.

Uncle Sans employees Mt Washington,
D c. These men-known alike to labor
and capital all over the country-arc
designated by law as Official peacemnk-
ers. IL Is their duty TO preserve the
peace. so to spenk between the rail-
roads and that big, Influential body OF
men. the train operntore engaged In 10
terstatc trn0lc,
The Pcnccmnkers.
When these representatives. OF capital
aud labor arc az logGeTbcaJs. tho two
men-Mnrtln Augustus Knapp, OF Syra-
cuse, n. y. chairman OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission, and DR.. Charles
p. Nein United States Commissioner of
Labor-step In and seek to pour oil
on the troubled winters by avcrting
strike md crccting a compromise and
settlement
The work Of these two men bas been
remarkable 10 several particulars. In the
orst place IL has been uniformly succeSs-
fol This statement Is more impressive
when IL is taken Into consideration that
the work was looked upon 10 the hight
OF q questionable experiment when 0rst
suggested, In ,be second place. their
work has shown that when approached
In friendly spirit. but without bias.
prejudice or p2rtisanshlp, both capital
and labor arc disposed TO display fair
ness patience, tolerance and regard
for the rights, each Of the other.
How much OF tbis success has been
due t. the personality OF the mediators
and how much 10 tho good sense and
fairness OF the men and their employers
may not accurately be determined. But
that much has depended upon tho medi-
stors themselves is beyond dispute. And
both men are qualified by education and
temperament TO oct In this trying en-
pscity.
Few persons arc aware that during
the past year several great railroad
strikes. which would nayo caused I'm
mense suffering and loss OF business
and money, have been narrowly nverted
10 this country When tho industrial
depression came the railroad companies
very genenlly threatened to reduce the
wages OF their employees naturally, there
vas an immediate protest.
The Situation Critical.
For time II seemed that there would
be much trouble, for the employees were
determined TO resist any reductions and
the railroads declared that they could not
a9ord To continue the old scale OF
wages Very naturally the result WINS
deadlock. There seemed n determination
TO bring on strikes
The public never knew how critical the
situation was But tho government was
In q position to know. IL wos able. by
reason OF the Erdman Act, TO offer friend
B ly and dlelntercstcd mediation. which,
I while being In the nature OF an uDtried
experiment. wnB accepted by the rail,
roads and their men. The impending
4 strikes did not occur and government
J mediation scored triumph. Many other
csses have been handled 10 tbis snmc
euccsssful manner.
And tho two men who hnye charge OF
this unique department of government
are adopts at their strange profession.
/ Reared on farm until his seventeenth
year. Martin Augustus Knapp learned
! from experience something OF the stand
point OF tho mnn who laborS with bis
hande Having educated himself won
college degrees Of A. NJ. and LII. D.
gained admission 10 the bar Of his untive
state and become possessed through bis
industry md thrift OF a competence. he
oes mn appreciation OF the feelings OF the
y copltollstic class and 40 understanding OF
the legal rights OF both capital and lobor.
"lthol he has a keen sympathy for the
WorLlngman and a sense Of justice that
would prevent him couptenancing an To-
Justice 10 any individual whether rich
or poor
While still young lawyer Mr.. Knapp
wns mnde corporation counsel for the
t'ty OF Syrncuec, which office ho held for
AZ years In 1891 no wns appointed
member OF the Interstate Commerce Com
flnsion by President Harrison. He was
,ehppolnted Ia 1897 by Preaident clcvc-
iisna and again by President Roosevelt
A Social Scientist.
As united States Commissiouer OF
Labor DIR, Charles r. Nclll bns mado on