Arizona republican., 1916-08-26
The SaerificiaI Goat

The SacrificiaI Goat
 It is not in good taste to drag such serious situation threatened railway strike into politics but democratic newspapers anticipating that the strike will be averted somehow have already been describing that future event triumph for the president We will suppose that it shall be averted according to the plan of the president which has been modified by the railway managers and which modification has been in effect accepted by the pres dent The presidents plan involved the concession by the managers of eight-hour day. the employees to abate their demand for time and half for over time, this demand and other points in dispute to go to some sort of an arbitration board This plan accepted by the employees.
 The railway managers claimed that the granting of the eight-hour day would greatly increase their expense of operation the eight-hour day with time and half' for overtime they said would add s1Oo, OOOOOO annually their expenses The concession of the eighthour day alone would not of involve so great additional expense, but still considerable addition Therefore, they asked the president how they be recouped, and they suggested an in- of rates To this the president yielded He said that he had no power to order the interstate commerce commission to allow such an increase but it may be presumed that such request hint coming the president would be favorably acted upon.
 The railway managers further stipulated that there should De leglsaton proVldlng TOT what would ticaly be compulsory arbitration. That the employees will oppose and would probably successfully oppose it in congress.
 However, agreement this proposition of the railway managers is not necessary the avoidance of a strike. concession of the eighhour day, with to the railway companies that the addi- tionaI expense will not fall them. will prevent a strike and then we will witness a triumph" But there be triumph without defeat of some thing somebody. Who in this would be the victim?
 Not the railroad companies. which would not only have lost nothing but would have gained precedent. The interstate commerce commission in the past has wisely refused grant increases of of wages for such practice would tend to friendly cooperation between railroads and their employees for mulctng the public Yet the president has gone record favoring this practice and pre- cedent.
 The railway employees would be the victims of such a plan, for they would have gained not all. but the greater part of all their demands How, then, could there be a triumph for anybody a of the settlement of the strike by the plan proposed since both parties the controversy would be left in improved positions? But there would be triumph" and that is plain and indsputabe. our democratic friends will claim, we look farther the victim the defeated party He is al- ready in plain view The public had been unanimously chosen by the railway companies. the president and the employees the goat" the sacrifice to peace Against this selection there has been the slightest protest by the president The only of unwilling ness has been sounded by the employees
 This peaceful arrangement would leave certain matters in which the public is vitally interested unsolved. Among them are these: Would the con cesson proposed of the roads, really add to their penses of operation? The labor leaders say would not that f would he hy a changing of ules the faster systematic running of the trains and better service without additional cost.
 The railroad managers have made point of the fact that their employees who have made demands upon them already receiving pay ranging from $500 year to s32OO year To the struggling chant. the farmer. the average workngman shippers and consumers who have been doomed for further mulcting by the modified peace plan of the president this remuneration ample.
 But whether the employees should receive increased remuneration and whether the public should be mulcted further to afford that increased tion are matters which have been given no consid- eraon by the president in the evolution of his plan in his acceptance of the railway managers modi fication. These matters which could be deter mined only by an arbitration of them, and the presi dent put himself record against their arbitra- tion He has insisted that the eighthour day demand shall be granted out of hand, without arbitration and coupled with his insstence this point is his &C., quescence in the railway managers demand to lay additional burden the people, burden that will be felt by every. shipper and consumer in the land.
 Perhaps the railway employees should receive more than they are now paid; it may be that the pay of from S15O0 to s320O year is too small It may be that freight rates too low and that the people should be forced to pay more But think the people would feel greater satisfaction if verdict against them returned by competent arbtra- tion commission than they would feel ad- verdict hastily agreed upon in the White House patch up peace between the railways and their employees