New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-01
UNIONS ARE JUNKERS


To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Is this a government By the people
and for the people or is it an oligarchy rulea
by the chiefs Of the labor unions? Inc
President OF the United States apparently
thinks the latter, though with one OF those
astounding and unbelievable shifts IN ex-
pressing his mental operations he places the
blame, should strike come, entirely upon
the railroad presidents.
What are the facts? Mr.. Wilson says he
believes absolutely in arbitration: the rail
road presidents offered TO arbtrate, the peo-
pie Of the United States want arbitration
then why not have arbitration Simple
enough: the olgarchy says it won't aroItrate
Mr. Wilson SAYS:
"But matters have come to sudden Crisis
in this particular dispute and the country
had been caught unprovided with any prac-
ticable means of enforcing that CONVICTION
(arbitraton) in practice by whose iauiJ We
will not now stop to inquire
This is certainly contrary TO the facts
"The Financial Chronicle" Of April ]. 1910
refers TO the demands Of the trainmen AZ
follows:
AS was pointed out two months ago. this
il the first countrywide demand by railroad
workers for more wages. These BODIES
Of railway men have so combined for the
sole purpose Of better achieving their ends
Il is conspiracy on a gigantic scale
tc compel compliance with the demands OF
the employees. FOR raiiroaa EN-,
ployes to conspire together with the view OF
coercing all railroads in the United states 10
grant an advance in wages and make other
concessions is violation Of the Federal anti
trust law and positively forbidden
Sc cd 10 nave SAID 70
the President that one Of the reasons for not
arbitrating was that the brotherhood had
been preparing for thirty years for this de-
mand
with the clear evidence that the railroad
brotherhoods proposed TO have their demands
granted under the penalty Of waging war
against the people of the United states and
starving them into submission IN order TO
obtain what they asked for, can there be any
question whose fault IT is this threat 1t Is
now proposed to carry into effect
Mr.. Wilson SAYS that If strike comes II
is the fault Of the railroad presidents. This
assertion is so silly and his long address to
Congress in light of the facts so ridiculous
as TO become a handmaiden TO "Too proud to
fight" "The causes and results OF the war
do not concern US" and other gems Of like i'm
pert.
The fact is. Mr.. Wilson rs teacher wrote
truly as TO the menace Of the labor unions,
but Mr.. Wilson as politician IS grievousiy
disappointed that his coup dttat did not re-
suit in the railroad presidents pulling ms
political chestnuts out Of the fire.
Mr. Wilson knows, and every politician
knows. that special legislation has been ef-
fected TO win the united support Of tho labor
unions. Other people have to obey the
law: the labor unionites thanks TO the legis-
lators Of the states and the United States,
belong TO the junker class Of America; they
are above and beyond the laws just so long
rs they will vote right.
Under such circumstances il is undoubtedly
a bitter pill for Mr.. Wilson that the railroad
presidents. employees Of the owners OF their
properties, did not supinely yield to the
Presidents political necessities.
Somebody ought 70 give way so that no
cloud should be on his political horizon He
constituted himself the Judge. the jury and
the prosecuting attorney and refused to
listen TO the railroad presidents side of the
controversy until he had made up his mind
that society wanted the eight-hour day ana
that it would be jolly good thing for him
politically to win the support Of union labor
II certainly marked him as great
strategst. and no doubt he will take his posi-
ton beside Won Hindenburg and possibly have
wooden statues erected to his honor, 50 that
we, the people of the United States, can drive
nails into them, but it is mighty lucky for
us that the railroad presidents call honor be
TO them) had the backbone and sapd 20 stick
70 their convictions and their trusts with per-
feet confidence that the people Of the United
States will be able shortly to register their
verdict, "by whose fault this crisis has
come. CLARENCE b. WOOD.
BOSTON. Mass, Aug 80, 1916.