Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-02
Arbitration in Public Interest

M 49, vi ~ upiit ~ bpolus lHdl HdS uctu
Af1 extended TO the railroads in their con-
troversy with the trainmen is based on the
railroads expressed and reiterated willing
ness To arbitrate: most of the loss of sympa-
thy the men have experienced is due to their
refusal Of this offer.
AS President Johnson. OF the Norfolk and
Western Railway. says. iii the demands of
the men in train service are Just and fair to
all employees. TO the public and to the owners
OF the property. there should be no hesitation
about accepting arbitration to settle these
differences. We indorse that statement un-
reservedly. Although the men contend it is
impossible to find arbitrators with the tech
nicai knowledge and experience. combined
with other qualifications. that will warrant
the expectation OF fair findings. such pessim-
ism is difficult TO credit. 1t certainly is not
supported by the circumstance that some
former arbitrations have resulted in the train
men obtaining rather less than their full de-
mands.
According to President Johnson. the pres
ent demands. if complied With. would mean
increased payment of wages. or increased
trackage and other facilities, and lin either
event the expenditure OF large sums of money
is demanded" To tho lay mind this seems
a fair statement of an obvious fact, unless
we assume. which is ridiculous. that railroad
officials now keep their men on duty merely
for the pleasure Of seeing them work. 1t
therefore follows. further TO quote the Nor
folk and Western executive. that The public
must provide for the payments by increasing
passenger and freight rates. or the roads will
not he able to nee, their obligations. and re-
ceivcrships will follow"
These are questions. al any rate. in which
the public has an interest scarce less vital
than that OF the other parties TO the CON
troversy. If q strike is not threatened, it at
least is 10 be feared and feared very seri-
nnSly Tho irliStriol 1n..oe 49,, .,
strike would occasion would be felt by every
citizen Of the country. The disarrangemcnt
ui business would be appalling. The pros
pcrlty the nation is enjoying would be de-
stroyed. Thousands Of business firms prob
ably would be rendered insolyent.
II is not the sor, OF issue in which the
public interest can he disregarded. Refusais
to submit the questions involved 10 the arbi-
tration OF Nhe Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, or 10 some other form of arbitration.
weaken the case of the employees in public
estimation. If that case is as strong as they
contend it to be. there is no reason to believe
the Interstate Commission would
fail to do justice.
There is one other objection to submission
to this arbitration that has a surface merit.
1t is that of delay. II is true. probably. the
hearings would be protracted and that some
months or a year would elapse before a
decision could be expected. This objection
Is not vital. Trainmen cannot be regarded
seriously as among the harried and oppressed
individuals OF the race. although they arc
lond sometimes OF painting themselves in
such bizarre colors. 1t may he the railroads
would consent to make The findings of tho
commission retroactive.
In any event, some way should be found
by which an impartial tribunal NAV mass on
these issues. y whole nation should NOT no
plunged INTO disaster because the railroads
and their employees cannot agree.
AS soon as a rumor gets started about the