El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-07-27
NATIONAL STRIKE
ON RAILWAYS AN !
EP0GHAE DISASTER
Calamity Would Be Most
Appalling in History
OF America
(Ry A. M. How'd

10y a.. m.. UoNeJ M
Carlsbad, N. MI, July 2l.-sThe ef-
feet Of a nationwide railroad strike on
100000, 900 people IS beyond the grasp
of the human mind" said G. N. Nc
ILenathan today in discussing the
strike vote now being taken by the
enginemen and the trainmen OF all
the American railroads.
at will be a calamity so appalling
in it's consequences that history does
not record its like. It win reach every
ireside and touch every line Of hui
man activity. Its effect will reach be-
You'd, even beyond the boundaries of
this nation that today is feeding war
stricken Europe.
'Few comprehend how vast is the
inland transportation business of this
nation or how dependent for its exist
ence this inland empire is upon unin-
terrupted railway traffic. A late re-
port Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, as quoted in the press dis
patches, covers the operation of 257,-
569 miles Of track, representing an
investment in stocks and bonds of
$40, 719, 1893, 944. 90; figures that are
absolutely staggering to all, not
prices and potentates of finance. Stop
every wheel on this vast system, can
any one foresee the consequences?
..The public does not understand
the merits of the demands Of the rail
way employees" Mr.. McLenathan CON
tinued. '"The press, the mentor Of
the public, has discussed the matter
sparingly. But even had the press
gone into every phase Of the situation,
the public would have been but little
wiser. Every one is too busy with his
own affairs and Immediate problems
to study anything SO comprehensive
as a national transportation problem.
"The American public Of 100000
900 people has a greater interest In
this controversy than the 100000
railway employees, officials, and stock
holders. The railroads depend entire
ly on the public for their very ex-
istence. Any differences that may
arise in the railway world must be
settled without Industrial war and
consequent damage to the public.
There is only one agency In the Unit
ed States competent to act in this
matter on behalf Of the public, the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
For thirty years this commission has
protected the public welfare in deal
ing with the railroads. It can investi-
gate and settle fairly the demands of
the train crews and avert a national
catastrophe Of a strike.
"The railway managers have seen
the hand writing on the wall and Of
fer to have this controversy inyesti-
gated and settled by the commission.
The officials Of sthe Brotherhoods de-
clined to consider arbitration in any
form. The public is yet to be heard
from But it is a foregone conclusion
that the public, when it realizes the
danger of a strike, will instruct its
representatives in congress and other
governmental departments in no UNI
certain tone that there must not be a
nationwide railway strike.
"There is too much liberty and too
little authority in this country If
our government had the power and
the courage exercised by the French
Premier, BRAND, In a strike crisis a
few years ago. the American public
would need have no fear at this time,
Il am strongly for the man who
earns his bread by the sweat Of his
brow, But no man can with a clear
conscience be party to thrusting upon
The American nation the appalling
calamity OF a general railway strike,
while the door is wide open for a
peaceful adjustment of hts demands
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission"