The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-08-16
We Are Asking the Men Not
to Strike, and the Roads
Not to Make Them Strike


strike of railroad workers.
The Times, however, DOES want to
see these workers satisfied, and believes
that they are entitled to considerable
say, within the bounds Of reason and
fairness, in the matter of the hours they
shall work and the pay they shall re-
ceive for that work.
Against the claims of the men the
railroads submit us figures to show the
vast amount of money they have tied up
Ia their properties. and more figures to
show us what it costs TO operate these
properties.
Which is all right.
It is perfectly proper that the rail-
roads urge it upon us to give them the
consideration these figures call for.
We cannot proceed fairly toward an
equitable adjustment of the very vital
matter at issue WITHOUT giving them
due consideration.
CAPITAL must first be conceded all that
Is coming to it before we can sympathize
with labor, when it demands all that is
coming to labor.
If there could be some way devised TO
get the parties to this dispute to concede
at once that when it comes to operating
I. : railroad or many railroads, labor is
Just as essential as capital and capital
Just as essential as labor, the chances
would be bright for an early adjustment,
by proceeding direct from that point.
The great trouble between capital and
labor has always been that one has con-
sidered itself of more Importance than
the other, and both have been wrong.
The fact is, they are MOST important
to EACH OTHER.
The advantage at this time is, of
course, with the men.
The railroads, so to speak, cannot leave
the tracks.
The men can.
Ordinarily the advantage is with the
employer, who owns the facilities of pro-
duction.
He can let the machinery stand idle
while the men find other jobs or starve.
The real sufferer is the public.
It is at all times at the mercy Of both.
This same public stands ready always
TO plead that it is the innocent sufferer,
but has to be awakened occasionally TO
the Importance to society of those it is
prone to forget.
We are hoping against a strike, and
! there may not be strike, but the agita-
ton of strike has already served pur-
pose and been Of benefit to the workers.
1t has served to call attention to the
great service they render this public, in
a hazardous pursuit, and to call attention
to the fact that but for this service we
would suffer like city cut of in war
by an enemy.
Our industries would have to shut
down; the product of the farms would
rot; babies would be without milk and
men without meat and vegetables for
sustenance.
Famine would be an inevitable result.
Try as you will to solve the situation
we suggest and you will find the steam
railroads essential to your solution.
Try it.
II Is pretty essential to society that
there are railroad workers.
II is pretty essential to society that
these railroad workers be given recogni.
tion and just treatment in pay and In
hours of labor.
IL is pretty essential 10 both society
and the railroads that these men be
given fair and just treatment
We are asking them not to strike.
We are asking the railroads not to
4 make II necessary for them 10 strike.
We are asking them TO get together.