The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-19
Tells Members Days of COncili-
alton Are Nearly Over.
AS TEMPORARY PALLIATIVE
The Measure Is Necessary and
COmmendable.
But Congress Soon Must Go to
Root of Trouble.

Eressman Victor MurdOck handed OUT
some good. real logic to the House
when it had under consideration
measure authorizing the president of
the United States to appoint a commits
sion of mediation and conciliation to
arbitrate controversies between labor
and capital. This proposed legislation
is forced by the impending strike of
nearly 100000 railroad men.
Mr.. Murdock tells Congress it is of
on the wrong tangent and that all leg
isIation of this sort will be of no avail
in the future. He said:
4 think that nearly all men will
commend the dispatch and the de-
termination in the conduct of this
measure which has chara cterized Pres
ident Wilson's course 1 favor this at
tempt to extend the arbitration meas
ure because believe that it will bring
peace in this particular industrial line,
at least temporary peace
But the situation, as I see It. and
of which this is indicative, presents
distressing problem that no such COM
promise will permanently cure Take
this present situation, for example. and
consider the case in hand The railway
trainmen were about to strike for
higher wages. They are actually face
TO face with the problem of living. That
IS the fact of the business. All Of US
here know from personal observation
know that they are men of education
and of high skill. as rule, and Of dis
eliminating mind by reason of their
occupation and training. They are not
moved and have not been moved by
whim or caprice in this matter. They
are not inspired by any latter-day class
consciousness against capital. These
men are not warning upon the railroad
managements of this country. They
are not quarreling with their bread
and butter for the mere love of con-
troversy. They are not fighting for |
volving their rights, but they are face
to face with the increasing hardship /
due to the high cost and the modern |
standards of living
Consumers Lose Ground.
1T is a problem not only with the
railway trainmen but it is a problem
also with all the wage earners of the
country, and it is increasing in acute
ness every day There has not been
a day in the last 20 years, or an hour
or minute, when the control of those
who fix the standards and cost of liv-
ing, when the control of those who
determine the cost of the shelter and
clothing and food of the people
there has not been a day or an hour
or a minute in the last 20 years when
that control has not narrowed. And
there has not been q day or an hour
or minute in the last 20 years when
the consumers in this country de-
spite all the protestations of the poll
ticians, despite all the laws that are
passed, have not been losing ground
1t is a serious problem with the
trainmen and with all breadwinners
in the country.
I'VE are busy here in a verv un-
usual way today to pass this merito-
rious measure, putting it through un-
der what is virtually cloture, and with
warrant. We do it because it is ex-
igent and pressing.
Do Not Touch Fundamentals.
But the great fundamentals which
are sapping at the vitality of this ma
ton we DO not touch. We are hand
ling only one side of the railroad
problem. What about the other side
of the prOblem2 What about the waste
in speculative fnanciering? What about
the report of the interstate commerce
commission on the railroad situation
IN New England made within the
hour? 1t is report which shows that
the New York, New Haven & Hart
ford railroad has been guilty of wanton
waste; that it paid in one instance. in
the purchase Of the Rhode Island troll
leys. S13,00O0OO for nothing; that it paid
road case, $12,000,000 more than the
roads value.
Who will pay for the waste? Who
will make good this sort of thing in
ralHOaQ speculation? Why. the ueC-
pie make it good, and with them these
railway trainmen who threatened to
strike.
Il say to the gentlemen that a mem
Der Of congress, with his $500 a year.
is apt to get rather far away from the
real problems Of life These men who
threaten to strike are regarded by
many as well paid. The trainnen are
superior in skill and in intellect. They
do not regard their pay as adequate.
And when the matter of their bread
and butter came up before theru-and
this ought to challenge the thought of
every man within the sound of nv
voice-the vote for the strike was al
most unanimous.
L say to you as fellow legislators
that believe that the day of paItering
and of postponement is passing in this
country. I believe the day of compro-
mise is almost gone. believe that
this body and the executive branch of
this government have got to get down
to business and reach into the heart
or this thing and correct the fundamen-
tai wrongs and find the real remedy
and when that is done there will be
precious little use of this act"
Duluth Wins Rate Case.
WASHINGTON. .J1ly Io-D1,l,+b RV;,. 7