The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-04
Refusing to Arbitrate.

There is a striking contrast between
the recent action OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad omcials over the grievances OF
their employees and that OF the little pub
lie service corporation which runs the
street cars az Columbus. Ohio. In one
case common sense. fair dealing, and an
adjustment. in the other a refusal to
arbltrate and a strike situation that is a
disgrace 10 Ohio. and which has called
for the presence Of over 5000 state troops.
at cost 20 the state Of some $4,000 day.
II is, OF course. the old question once
more about union and nonunion. though
the difficulty started over a demand for
higher wages, made in March. There was
a strike then. but the employees went
back 10 work upon the granting OF some
part OF their demands. But early in May
the employees claimed that there was
discrimination on the part Of the street
car company. and that union men were
being discharged for trivial causes. The
dispute reached such point that the
Columbus Chamber OF Commerce took
hand and cited the two parties to the dis
pute TO appear before the State board Of
arbitration. The men. relying on the Jus
tice or their complaint. were willing TO
submit their case. but the public service
corporation fatty refused 10 acquiesce.
It also declined 70 reinstate those who
had been discharged contrary 10 the
agreement IL had made with all the men.
Then came the strike
In street car strikes. II would seem. more
than in other strikes riots are COM
ponent part Of the trouble. It is inevitable
that the public service corporation-com-
PEELED TO maintain service to hold its
franchise-should try 20 run cars; it is.
after all. only human nature that the
strikers should try to prevent cars from
being run. For though IL is well grounded
In law that mans legal right to strike
ends with his quitting work, and does not
allow him 20 interfere with those who
take his vacant place the ract will always
be. we suppose. that men will not will
ingly give up the fight As Kipling's
poem phrased It, I'VE will fight for our
selves and a woman-forever and ever.
amen"
Public sentiment is all on the side Of
the strikers. even II the public is incon-
venienced and business hampered by the
strike. The facts are too well known:
and the fact that the public service cor
poration declined to arbitrate has put
the general public pretty generally on
the side Of the men. But. unfortunately.
incidental rioting and the disgrace the
presence Of the troops inhicts on the
city has relegated, for the time being. the
merits OF the dispute 20 the background.
But it is evident that the street car
company is bound to lose. whichever way
the strike terminates; and this Is as Il
should be, for those who can arbitrate
and viii not should be made to arbi-
trate. II this public service corpora
ton. seeking TO carry through an unjust
cause by the weight or its money. power
and influence. is made to feel sharply the
force OF public indignation a big adj
vance viii be made in the cause Of arbi-
tration in labor disputes.
Already 10000 citizens have signed petit
tons asking that proceedings be insti-
tuted TO put the street car company
into the hands Of receiver who
SHAH operate the property I'll the strike
is settled It should be taken as a mat
ter OF common Justice that a public serv-
Ice corporation that refuses TO arbitrate
a labor dispute is UNIT to serve the public !