The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-09-14
THREATENED RAILROAD STRIKE
AS A POLITICAL ISSUE

Oklahoma Republicans in their
state convention sought to make po-
litical issue out OF the railroad strike,
recently ayerted by the action Of con.
gress. No better answer to their crit.
icism OF the administration in this
matter has appeared than an editorial
printed by the Wichita Eagle, former.
ly staunch Republican paper but
now Progressive in its policies. The
Eagle discusses the subject as fol-
lows:
ut is of course inevitable that
large amount Of bunk should be pro-
duced in every political campaign. II
does seem, however, that there is O
veritable gIut of it this year. And,
of it all, the worst is the Republican
effort to make political capital out OF
the threatened railroad strike.
at Is charged that the president be
trayed the cause Of arbitration. Ar
bitration, however, had been flatly re-
fused so far at least as concerned the
demand for an eight hour day. Months
ago The Eagle pointed out that the
passage by congress OF the eight hour
law demanded by the 1912 Progress
sive platform, and universally conced
ed to be Just, would have averted the
strike. Congress finally did pass the
law, and the strike was called off Do
those who howl at the president think
that he should have been as bull-head-
ed in his opposition to labor as Grover
Cleveland, and involve the country in
another strike even bloodier and more
costly than that of 1894?
at is argued that the eight hour
day is not involved; that the only re-
suit of the Adamson bill will be to in
crease wages. That is for the rail
roads to say If they work their men
as in the past, the result will be an in.
crease of wages, for those who work
more than eight hours. If, by cutting
down slightly the heavy freights, and
increasing the average miles per hour
from 10 to 1216, the roads confine the
trainmen's work within eight hours,
they will have no increase in wages
though somewhat larges number OF
men will have to be employed.
at is argued further that congress
should not have legislated without
knowledge of the facts. But how were
the facts to be ascertained? Expert
opinion still differs widely as to the
effect OF the new legislation. Con
gress decided to try the new regula-
tions out in actual practice, and then
take such further action as might be
shown necessary. Inasmuch as the
railroads viii not be injured at all In
the end by this course of procedure,
is not this the wise course to pursue
Is it not the only way actually to dis
cover the facts?
"The public is told that it will have
to foot the bills. But how large will
the bills be? The railroads howled
when the sixteen hour law was passed,
yet they were not injured Perhaps
they will be able to survive the eiga.
hour law. Why not wait and see?
"The biggest bunk Of all, however.
is that congress was coerced into act
ing. OF course it was coerced. 1t was
coerced into enacting the child labor
law Public opinion forced it to pass
big navy bill The women are try
ing, by threats of defeat to coerce the
Democratic party into granting wo-
man suffrage. The Anti.Saloon league
is trying TO ooerce 1t into passing a
national prohibition law. We're all
using our utmost powers of coercion,
in one way or another.
"The only ones who have a right to
blame President Wilson and congress
are those who hold that the army
should have been called out. as in
1894, to compel the men to Work, and
who likewise oppose the eight hour
day. Those who believe that labor
has right not only to ask for but to
demand the eight hour day. and who
likewise oppose the use 0r military
strength to force men to work aginst
their win for private capital can find
little fault with the presidents plan.
Especially if congress in December
proceeds to the enactment of the rest
OF the program.
Those Republicans who oppose the
settlement, by the way should pro
pose an alternative plan"