The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-13
The Logic of the
Philadelphia Trouble.

From differences between the street
car company and its employees which
finally led to strike by the latter,
the city of Philadelphia is now in"
volved in an internal conflict ap-
preaching a state of open warfare
situation which affects the interests
not only of the two direct parties to
the controversy, but which menaees
the dives and property OF every citizen
of Philadelphia
II the philadelphia situation In
volyed no one but the street car COM
pany and its striking employees, there
would probably be many people
unChristian enough to be willing that
the company and the men should
fight the question out between them
selves. But the situation does not in
yolye these interests alone-It IN
wolves practically every man, woman
and child who resides in the city as
well as many Others who do not re-
side there, but whose interests are
nevertheless affected by the reign OF
roit which exists there.
Now what is to be the end or all
this trouble? How long Is the gen.
eral public, which neither owns stock
in the street car company nor mas
membership In the striking labor
union, but which simply wants
adequate street car service-how long
is the general public going to stand
for this sort OF thing? How long are
the 80 per cent of people, who are
merely looking for service and are
ready to pay for it, going to permit
system which allows the other one
per cent of people to tie up their bust
nesses and endanger their lives for
an indefinite period because OF dis
pute over which the 80 per cent have
no control? The answer is that the
public will not stand for such things
forever and a solution of the problem
will have to be found.
What In that solution? Some one
will say the "open shop" But that
will not settle the question because
an open shop" never solved a wage
problem and never will. The labor
union will say the CLOSED shop" and
a working contract between the com
pany and the men. But no such con-
tract can be made binding on labor
union and it will not prevent a strike
whenever the labor union wants to
call one. Some one proposes com
pulsory arbitration" but compulsory
arbitration would simply provide a
means whereby either party could, If
IL desired, ultimately arbitrate the
other out OF existence and particular
ly if there were no means-and there
could not be-for enforcing an arbi-
tration verdict.
This condition whereby the welfare
of a whole community may be ieop.
ardized because OF a dispute between
the owners and employees of public
service utility will have to be settled
some other way. The public is de
pendent on the operation of this pub,
lie service utility and the public will
have to protect its own interests even
IL, in doing so. It becomes necessary
for the public to own and operate all
public utilities in the interest Of the
public.
Theorize about It as you will. Talk
about paternalism and socialism and
whatever else you may call it. The
fact remains that there is but one
end to such conditions as are now
seen in Philadelphia and as are likely
to be seen at any time in any other
great American city, and that end
by the very logic Of facts and condi-
tions-is municipal ownership and op-
Grafton OF street railways as well as
lighting plants and water supply
systems.
It is unnecessary to argue the
various merits and objections in
volved In municipal ownership of a
street car line, a lighting plant, or a
water system. There is much to be
said on both sides of the subject.
But the fact remains that no plan has
ever been found or proposed by