Devils Lake inter-ocean., 1913-07-25
aaaJRpocK ON ARBITRATION.

-
struck by Representative Murdockk, Of
Kansas. the floor leader of the progress
.sives in the house, in the debate on
July 18th, on the amendments to the
EEdman act designed to afford a
zneans of settlement of the controv-
tTainmen and fifty-four eastern rail-
rnads ON which a strike involving
some $4,000 men was imminent. These
amendments had been pending for a
long time. They had passd the SEN
at But it was impossible to secure
n ton by the dawdling democratic
house until this threatened strike pre-:
sented such an acute emergency that
action became imperative in the inter-
est of the whole country. President
Wilson then lent his powerful influ-
ence and, at conference at the White
House, it was agreed that the democ-
mats in the house should cease their
bIckering over individual differences of
ppinion and for ence get down to bust
mess
! The debate in the house is a fine
illustration of the way in which the
reactionaries, both democrats and re-
pnblicans alike, are accustomed to
Dlay politics with this sort of question.
1t was only the progressives, Mr.. Muir
dock and Mr.. Kelly, who went beyond
the ephemeral and incidental question
and spoke of the fundamental problem.
Nh Murdoch spoke for only five min
utes but what he said is worthy of
the consideration of the whole coun-
Try His speech in full follows:
4 think that nearly all men will
eommend the dispatch and the deter
mination in the conduct of this mea-
sure which has characterized Presi-
dent Wilson'S course. favor this at
tempt to extend the arbitration mea-
sure because 1 believe that it will
bring peace in this particular industri-
al line, at least temporary peace
But the situation, as l see. it, and
of which this is Indicative, presents a
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
snr higher wages. They are actually
-saee TO face with the problem of liv.
That is the fact of the business
All OF US here know from personal OBJ
SeTVation the trainmen of this coun.
try. We all know that they are men
OF education and of high, skill, as a
rule, and Of discriminating mind by
reason Of their occupation and train.
ng. They are not moved and they
nave not been moved by whim OF
a:apers in this matter. They are not
inspired by any latter-day class con
seriousness against capital. These men
are not warning upon the railroad man
asgement Of this country. They are
mot Guarreling with their bread and
butter for the mere love Of controy
arsy They are not fighting for The
maintenance, OF some theory involv
za1ng their rights, but they are face tc
gace with the increasing hardship due
) 40 the high cost and the; modern stand
saras of living. &s$& .32s 5.sss.
3 IS II is a problem not only with the
ssassllil'Wya EaliWay 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 beer
2 day in the last 20 years, or an houl
sor a minute, when the control Of those
who tx the standards; and cost O,
alVlng, when the control of those who
uetermine the shelter and clothing
4 and food of the people there has no
been a day or an hour or a minute i,
ahe last 20 years when that contro
!. mas not narrowed. And there has no
been {; a day or an hour or a minute il
ne last 20 years when the consumers
q En .1stll TINS country, despite all the protest
aIiUns of the politicians. despite al
fa1e laws that are passed, have moi
been losing ground 1t is a serious
problem with the trainmen and witt
al breadWinners in the country.
5saW 5@ We are busy here in very .unusua
4 4 way today to pass this meritorions
4 . 11ls7 measure, iau putting it. through under
ssaat is virtually cloture, and Will
- @ ettt = Nv e aOlte because 1T is exi
81 gent and pressing. "a 81. "a.
s$ss f5u the great fundamentals wl,icl
4 are sapping at the vitality of this ma
4 ;Sle,l ;s511,l We do not touch. We are handI
5;Ii1gg one side Of the railroad problem
~ hat bout the other side Of the prob
Z aena What about the waste in specula
ss ave fiiaaIlci ering What about the re
pDrt OF the Interstate Commerce Com
Il 1 sssa gsssnassion on the railroad situation II
VA seE England made within the hour.
sst: ~ ~ a eport hich sh oWs that tI,e
lev York ew e SHa artf forft
EssIi.foad has been guilty of Wantto,n
vast t b at it paid i'll one ms tanee, II
the pure base Of the Rhode Island troll
aeys, s1s 900 ], 900 for nj ng hat i
3sgEa e, in & another inst tanee, in the West
safssler road case -. .0o0, 900 more
III saa the road value.
VII pay for the waste? WIZ,
VIII he good sort of thing III
5szsIl f6aa sb beeIIa tion !? gs Ily. ii, 4 ueanIe