The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-09-14
THAT .AVERTED Strike.

For several months the railroad
unions have sought to obtain an
Eeight-hour day and in addition a
&concession whereby extra hours
work was to be vastly increased. AS
#for instance il a broken rail. or
or disabled locomotive
Mdelayed train say four hours, the
Mstrain crew, were to have double pay
Eafor the hours of the delay To the
Mfirst the railroad managers have re-
RSplied: 1--WE are willing to concede
THAT of the Interstate Commerce
Commission will permit us to adj
Il vance passenger and freight charges
II enough to pay YOU" The last they
Il refused on the score that it was al
together unjust, and because train
men already had extra pay because
| of their liability to meet with acct
dents.
] The matter eliminated in threat
| of general strike being ordered
Further they refused to have their
differences with the managers arbi-
trated by any tribunal
Then President Wilson entered
the controversy and endorsed their
! demand. for an eight-hour day, and
| has driven a bill through congress
making it the law and under his
determination every needed amend
i metn to protect the public and pro-
vide means to adjust future differ
eDces was voted down. More than
/ that, more than one senator declared
! that it was political gallery play to
influence the coming election, and
two strong democratic senators de-
clared that it was a shameful hold
up, and one fact shines out clearly
through it all which is that one class
of working men are on the record,
stronger than the president, senate
and house Of representatives of the
United States. Further the bill set
ties no principle and finally the other
working men of the nation who keep
it's great interests moving will have
to meet the extra cost, while the
whole nation will have to bear the
disgrace.
The democratic platform on which
Mr.. Wilson was elected declared
that the Panama canal should he
free to American coast shipping,
that is. to ships PLYING between AM
erican ports as. for instance between
Now York or New ORLEANS aud San
Francisco.
Mr. Wilson lost no time in driv-
ing a bill through both houses of
congress levying the same tolls on
such ships as foreign ships pay No
one was benefited by his law save
the through great railway compan-
les
Multifold proof was supplied Mr..
Wilson of repeated murders and
looting Of Americans in Mexico,
but he was not impressed.
But two years ago the election
was pending and there was danger
of loosing the democratic control of
congress-
Some petty officials in Tampito
arrested a boats crew sent by an
American ship of war, anchored in
the harhor. for the mails. So soon
as the Mexican commander there
heard of the incident. he fastened to
release the boats crew and rendered
profuse apologies for the act Of the
subordinate But when Mr.. Wilson
heard Of the incident he was en-
ragged: the American flag had been
1 insu]ted and he demanded repara-
ton from the time being president
of that country at Mexico City. three
hundred miles from Tampico. He
naturally thought that all the rep
aration required had been made and
declined. Whereupon in simulated
frenzy Wilson had the secretary of
the navy order the whole north Am
erican fleet to Vera Cruz, then made
an impassioned speech to congress
asking for vote of justification for
doing what he had full power under
\ the law to do.
1t was altogether about the most
transparent fiasco ever nerpetrated
nv president of the United States,
+ but it won.
The passage of the strike-averter
was reminder of that incident 1t
goes to the country that the presi-
dent forced through an eigh-hour
law for the benefit of railroad work
ers
But it settled nothing any more
| than did the sending of the fleet to
Vera Cruz and like that gallery play
it put the government of the United
States to shame before the world
Suppose Mr. Wilson shall be elect
ed in November and the brotherhood
in January deliver another ultimat-
I UNI to the government, will Mr.. Will
son respond in the same way? Does
anyone think he will?
Or rather, will he not respond as
he does when an American family is
murdered on American soil by Mex
lean bandits--put out a note that
the policy of watching and waiting
is the right one to pursue toward
the railroad troubles!