New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-02

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The editorial in your edition OF
Wednesday, August 80, called mo Panic
Legislation" is excellent reading.
II. in the spirit of the Presidents declara-
ton "that society favors restricting the en-
ployment of labor to eight hours" law be
passed providing that the men employed by
the railways shall be permitted TO work only
eight hours. it follows that if they have been
working ten hours 100000 more men must be
found qualified to perform the class OF service
now being rendered by the brotherhood nan.
II there be 100000 such men at hand, and the
railways are not prevented by force from en-
ploying them, then the strike Will soon be
over If there be not 100000 such men, then
il the law be obeyed the country must sub
nit to inconvenience. loss and danger until
sufficient men can be trained.
If the law either does not insist on eight
hours of labor or is not enforced, then Con-
cress. under duress from the brotherhoods,
will By law raise the pay Of these 100000 men
% per cent.
II the brotherhoods believe that their de
mand is founded in reason and justice, what
is the emergency that justifies such an injury
10 the community? The railroads have Of
fered TO submit the question to an impartial
tribunal, its decision when made TO take
effect as Of September l. The brotherhoods
have rejected this proposition. Is 1t not a
fair inference that they rejected 1T because
they believed that the eXigencles of a Presi-
Dental election give a power TO their organ
ization through the fear of politicians that
.tey may lose their combined vote and that
they wish to use this power, irrespective OF
right or justice?
Remember that these men are already nigh
Is paid, SO highly that if the entire annual
income Of the country were divided equally
between all the inhabitants OF the united
States. rich and poor alike, it would be I'M
possible TO give each family the income now
paid to the brotherhood men.
If the wages be increased the men can use
their additional income 10 buy more con-
sumable things and consume them, or they
can save the additional amount and invest u.
As the consumable things produced each year
are consumed in that year il a large class
like the brotherhoods be given more, some
one else must consume less. and the sufferers
will be those whose fixed income cannot be
expanded to meet the increased prices due
70 the increased demand. In other words,
Congress will by law take from the poor and
give TO the rich, from those who now have
orlv the necessities Of life to those who are
now able from their surplus income to keep
uu the expensive machinery of the brother
foods and accumulate funds running TO the
tens of millions for use in carrying or
strikes.
( II they do not buy more consumab!e things
but save their surplus and invest in bonds
and stocks, they become capitalists. Some
of them already belong to the class that pays
an income tax because they earn over $4,000
a year.
Now, what is there in this group Of 100000
men that makes action BIZ them right which
would be wrong if done by another group OF
400 900 men with substantially the same con-
suming power? If they were a number OF
plumbers, carpenters. or blacksmlths
working for themselves, if they were mer-
chants, manufacturers, railroad directors
professional men. anything else except trades
union men or farmers, the action that they
have taken would make them criminals and
/ their leaders would unquestionably be in
dicted and punished.
| Is it because they are so we'll organized
that the politicians believe that they will
vote together and that 100000 votes are
looked upon as Of sufficient Importance to
Justify the penalizing of the silent people
who, not being organized. cannot guarantee
/ that they will vote together? Is it not true
that there are more people interested in tho
securities Of the railroads than there are
members Of the brotherhoods? Why has not