American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-09-28
THEY ARE MENACING
FREE GOVERNMENT

The four trainmen's organizations
have a membership Of 400,0 0 men,. At
most they and their families number
1000, 900 persons-one-fftieth of the
population of the United States. A
very small minority, holding a posi-.
ton of strategic strength, is therefore
debating under duress the feverish en-
actment of a law of very doubtful
constitutionality, without adequate
consideration by congress, and under
stress of haste that prevents a proper
hearing by the great body of the Amer
lean public.
This is wrong business and danger
our business. If the republic should
ever disintegrate-if the exalted ex-
pertinent of popular government by the
people and for the people should fail
before the eyes of an observing world
these are the methods that will en-
compass its downfall.
To glaze over the hard and staring
facts, would be the part of cowardice.
A little group of four men are in the
national capital making open threats
OF throwing the country into indus
trial paralysis unless the president and
congress, before 7 o'clock Monday
morning, shall enact satisfactory
legislation compelling the railroads to
give them an eight-hour day with 10
hours pay.
No attempt is made to mask their
threats, for threat is the essence of
their power. They know their stra-
tegic strength and are using it to the
limit.
That strategic advantages lisa dan
gerous combination of political and in
dustrial power welded by a small
minority. Congress is on the verge of
adjournment. The president, all the
members of the house and a third of
the senators are Don to engage in a
political campaign for reelection. That
makes moral towards of most of them,
and the shrewd, able and uncompro-
missing heads of the trainmen's organ
i~zations know it.
In effect these leaders said" Unless
you yield instantly to our demands we
will throw III votes against you in
block, and we will tie up the coun-
tiy's lines of transportation to boot.
We won't arbitrate, we will no longer
mediate, or negotiate, we won't let you
investigate or deliberate. There you
have u ultimatum; what are you GO
ding to do about it?
1t is unfortunate hat these de-
mands come at the hour OF the nations
quadrennial political campaign. It is
unfortunate that the nation has not a
president Of rugged courage and unfal-
tering championship of right.
In affirming these fundamental
truths The Spokesman-Review is not
passing adversely on the issues be-
tween the railroads and their en-
ployes. A sense of duty has compelled
it to fight the railroads in many a
hard, long contest of the past. 1t will
fight them again when they are wrong.
and 1t will stand up again for the de-
mands of the workers when they are
right. But in this matter the train
men are wrong in rejecting .arbitra-
ton, wrong in intimidating the presi-
dent and congress, wrong In their
adoption of un-American methods to
gain their ends.
They are making now a precedent
that may ultimately be turned against
themselves. Today they have the po-
litical and industrial power to bring
the president and congress to their
knees. Tomorrow that power may pass
from them to the hands OF the capital
istic interests OF the land.
And, a greater misfortune still, they
are undermining popular government
and impairing free institutions found
ed for their well being and the preser-
walton of their political rights