New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-10

CT or the railroad man ever presumed 70
offer services in this direction? ldealistic
intention cannot justify unsocial acts, as
such interference can only be termed. FROM
a practical viewpoint, what experience nave
those gentlemen in any OF the branches Oh
the reedlework or railroad industries! have
they operated in the shops or superintendcd
manufacturing or the work OF the railroads
Yet they are aware that discipline, order
and the principles of equation are essential
20 all enterprises.
There is but one method Of dealing ef-
fectually with these conflicts. Contestlhg
representatives must meet to discuss, with
,aador and freedom, grievances and prop
lens, and the solution thus found Is more
permanent and economically sounder than
any compromise reached By the aid OF the
so-called impartial arbitrator Inequality
speedily manifests itself, and no commercial
treaty is lasting unless fair play predoml-
mates.
During the recent cloak and suit strike
information came to me which showed tnat
in the largest cloak and suit market OF the
West industrial peace has reigned Tor many
years The open shop was established by
the manufacturers after strike lasting
many months. Inquiring as to the methods
about this condition, lengthy letter was
received, from which l quote the following:
Meet no outsiders for any conference,
officially or secretly, with union repre-
sentatives, ministers, public officers,
rabbis or any outsiders Of any kind.
The President Of the United States ap-
pointed himself the arbitrator, but in fact
was nothing less than an advocate of the
railroad brotherhood, for he Immediately de-
dared in favor of the eight-hour working
day, and in accordance with his expression,
forced Congress, within ninety-six hours, to
pass bill making the eight-hour working
day for railway employees a law. The
passage of the eight-hour law will undoubt-
,dly give Mr.. Wilson some additional votes.
His actions were nothing more than we could
expect, judging from his past dongs.
II is not a secret that the Clayton act
was passed at the demand of Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Federation
of Labor, and in the passage of this act
labor leaders were given the impression by
President Wilson that labor unions would be
exempt from the provisions and penalties
of the antitrust law of 1890, so that they
could enter into conspiraces, tie up rail-
roads and restrain trade generally.
Is Mr.. Wilson allowed the unions to be-
lieve that the Clayton act would shield them
in wrongdoing, and if he said to newspaper
lien that it did not really exempt them from
he antitrust law, then he has shown a
political craftiness and double-dealing not
compatible with his high office. II Mr.. VIII
son really believes that the Clayton act does
not exempt unions, he should not lack the
moral courage so to declare. lie should
have told the brotherhoods when they threat
ered strike that, if they persisted, he
would invoke the antitrust law against
them. He, however, did not, and this is one
of the most important issues before the
people to-day.
1t has been conclusively proved by in
! iustrial strifes in the last few wears that