South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-06
DIE UNFINISHED ANTI-STRIKE JOB.

Railroad magnates may prate until they are black In
the the Adamson eight-hOur law being con-
hscatory they may cite the fourteenth amendment and
proclaim they being deprived Of life liberty
or property without due process of law"-which con-
Germs them probably. only because it is their prop
erty and not their life or Hbery-but country has
made one nationwide advance toward the dis
tributOn the hours of labor relaxation and sleep.
The eghthour working day perhaps not always at ten
hours pay. a basis of computation, is coming
generality and the sooner employers come TO realize
adopt without continuing force, the better it
will be Cor themselves as well for others Before
long monopoly endless worktns hours must be
the exclusive proud possession of the editors and
porters.
The Adamson bill is boy no means all that it should
oe. goes and good enough Tor
an emergency measure but there is a needed appendix,
necessarily cut off at the last moment. which will
eventually have to be tackled Some process must
settling the question OF what the rail-
way tranmen receive Tor eight hours work
after the eleven months and thirty days by
the pay clause has elapsed The Underwood amend
ment comforting authority upon interstate
commerce commission should have been passed but
with the clause pertaining regulation hours.
possibly excess of eight a standard day should
have been eliminated.
The law establishes an eight-hour day for railway
rrainmel 1t establishes commission TO investigate
oasis work he completed within months.
report flied with the president and with con-
gress within thirty days thereafter period
thirty days thereafter the TO receive
the present ten-hour pay for eight-hours work and
pro rata for overtime-no tme-and-a-haIf for over
time in that. Congress must deal with this report
when it gets the commission. after some man
yet be decided upon which leaves us an uGfn-
ished product. though less than nothing been
done al-and unprevented strike had been left
course. What the country needs to realize
its big bunder that this situation not
provided years ago as should have been follow
the big railroad strike OF 1877 that other one
in 1894. the still one of 1912 Democrats as
well republicans have been derelct the matter.
both cringing the lash of capital which until
has insisted that government leave its labor
problems alone else Iegisate an favor. The
thing about this whole railroad strike business
party concerned, labor capital government
people have out OF with any particular credit.
except in varying comparison with those republicans.
and a few democrats who. by their vote on the Adam
son prove despite efnergency they would
have retarded the good start made, even longer
The trainnen have shown themselves selnsn and in
consderate of the nations welfare They were willing
for a advantage themselves brins vast in
convenience. hardship and privauon 10 IOO.0Oo.0OO
people The railroads were wilkins many o them
eager. make OF strength i the hope Of de-
stro,ing the unions without regard to public loss and
maybe help presidential favorite. These ele-
directly involved have been about equal
y selfish. conscienceiess and culpabe.
The government has been tardy in tacklins the
perilous situation Congress should years ago have
enacted legislation insurng that country would not
be ground TO pieces between such hostile forces And
the public itself TO blame perhaps. more than any
Of the other three factors because il has yet
risen. even now. and demanded. clearly unmis-
takaby. private industrial controversies be sub
ordinated 10 governmental power.
The scare into which The nation has been thrown by
the immnence OF great strike has taught lesson
That lesson should be until the defect