Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-10
A Victory For Advertising.

mighty but bIoodless battle was won yesterday
by the railroads of the United states-won by the
shell and bullets Of systematic publicity fired
through the advertising columns Of the mainland
press
The four great brotherhoods Of railway employees,
representing 100000 men, agreed to place their diff
fe1epces with the railroads before federal media
tors.
been fighting Weeks ago the railroads. over the
signatures Of eighteen of the biggest railroad men
in the United States, declared:
@The single Issue before the country is whether
this controversy is to be settled by impartial gov
ernnient inquiry or by industrial warfare
When it was evident that the employees and EN-,
ployers were SO wide apart that break was almost
certainly inevitable the railroads began TO put their
case before the people through paid advertising.
Thex did not hesitate to put this case before the PEG.
pie In the news columns, of course, hut they also
contracted for advertising space in the country g
dailies and began well-executed advertising cam
paign which is an object lesson 10 corporations
everywhere.
The FIRST advertisement was headed:
Federal Inquiry or Railroad Strike"
Under this the roads told their story. They told
Of the differences between the operators and EN-
ployes over hours and pay told how the employees
had made demands the companies felt themselves
financially unable to meet, told how the roads had
proposed public inquiry and arbitration and how
this had been refused.
Then the roads made frank, straightforward,
vigorous appeal for public sentiment to come to
their aid. "a question for the public to decide
they said and added:
ssThe railroads feel that they have no right to
grant a wage preferment Of $1OO,OO0,00O a year to
these employees; now highlypaid and constituting
only oneff .of all the employees ,cithoat clear
inaddte from psblic tribunal that shall determine
TIE merits of tho case after reric,o of al the facts
Does this sound anything like the public be
damned attitude which many public service cor.
portions q few years ago appeared to follow?
As asmatter Of fact, this advertising by the rail-
roads Is the most noteworthy development of de-
tade II che relations between corporations, their
enip7oFes and the public,
And BY the way, ii is interesting to note that the
railroads declared for arbitration preferably by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Theyeiy body which a few years ago was regard
ID Az Il fad of socialism, as an enemy Of the rail
roads, is now the tribunal to which they turn for
assistance against alleged unjust demands,
Eorporations are learning that, after ALL the pub
lie and public institutions are their best friends
The public may criticize sharply at times, the
public may show an interest in business which the
employers regard as an intrusion private rights
but it Is the public public sentiment and public
bodies-whirh safeguards capital from oppressive
demands by labor just it is the public which safe
guards labor from exploitation by capital
Wt4her the railroads win or the employees win
IN fle settlement Of the dispute the railroads have
scure1 The victory for which they conducted their
sdyertispG campaign reference Of this dispute to
j pubic tribunal.