The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-17
AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE.
DO 1T NOW,


On the surface the Newlands arbitration
bill is a measure for the prompt settlement of
disputes between organized labor and employing
corporations, which might become troublesome
and dangerous to the public and the govern
ment 1t has. however a meaning deeper and
more far-reaching. involving some principles OF
vast Importance in the social and commercial
iiife OF the world. II shows how fast we are
advancing apparently. toward the solution of
fundamental questions presented by new con
ditions..
Railway owners may say to the government,
and with some bitterness and literal truth:
you have taken from us the power to regulate
the rates we shall charge for transportation.
Now you take from us the right to say what
wages We shall pay men and what hours
and in what conditions we shall require them
TO work. You may as well, now take our prop
erty from us" Yet the truth is these measures
OF regulation and restriction seem to be APP
proaches. step by step, toward a practical work
ing adjustment of the difficult relations Of pri-
waite rights and public rights We may be feel
ing our way toward and finding the true and
solid basis between the extreme socialist doc
trine that there should be no private owner
ship and the extreme individualstc doctrine that
each man should be for himself and without
responsibility to the public We have passed
through a stage of this last theory In actual
operation. In the years of development follow
ing the War Between the States each railway
was law to itself. The companies warred on
and devoured each other BY trickery smartness
the INSCRIPTIONS use of the power OF money
and of opportunity property was seized from
those who originated and built and invested in
1t. Rates were raised lowered to favor
ruin communities and interests. Reports and
market, to freeze out stockholders and to &C.
press or raise the prices OF securities. In the
relations between the corporations and the work
tngmen the rights OF the public were dIsregarded
by both sides, Commerce was stopped some
times. riots and disorders were constant thou
sands Of innocent persons not concerned in the
disputes were made to suffer cruelty
No man can live to himself We are all men,
bers one of another That familiar truth is for
gotten too often. We are responsible for and to
each other. Every owner of the smallest bit of
as a taxpayer, but as a manager. If man
owns nothing but dog he Is required to pre-
vent that dog from worrying his neighbors'
sheep or biting passers by. II man has moth
ing but his body, he is required to put it
at the service Of the public in time of war. for
Jury duty posse comtatus. Therefore under
the principles Of our government and of civilized
society generally the public. through it's organ
lied government. has the right to require that
property of enormous importance to the public.
like a railway line. system. the conduct of
which Affects directly the safety ad-pelfare
of every citizen shall be SO managed that it vii.
cause no injury. obstruction of trade or hard
y snip to the negibors.
Government ownership and operation of rail
way lines is contrary to the underlying prnci,
pies Of our government and constitution and
would be extremely dangerous Such government
regulation and supervision of the conduct of
the lines as will assure their usefulness to the
public exact good service and prevent them
from doing harm and bringing disaster is neces-
sary. 1t is not invasion of private rights
and is not coniscation 1t is the doing OF
thing obviously essential for the general good
The position OF the railways should be
strengthened and their prosperity secured under
the Newlands law, which. believe. will be
of much advantage TO them as the Interstate
Commerce law has proved to be AS the old
barbaric ways of wildcat railroading rate cut
ting and rebates treaeheris and destructive
wars have been abolished, SO probably the loose
and unregulated contests and struggles between