The Washington times., 1916-08-28
Roads Cannot Yield,
Says, A Ps,1nsy' Head
Better to Face Strike Than Surrender, Asserts Sam
uel Rea-Cost Would Be Too Great and Pub
lie Wouldn't Benefit

posed that the roads shall make sacri-
fice Of principles and grant wages which
would cause an increase In expenses
that would wipe out all Of the advances
sweep away the economies that have
been achieved by the exertions Of ten
years. vC =.
The public? No. All the employees of
the railways7 No. A single group OF
centage Of the total number 10 to get II
all. And are these the poorest paid en-
ployes7 Thy are very much the highest
paid.
Are they the most ioyai7 Not II
the acts Of the leaders OF their or
ganisations are to be accepted as hav-
ing their approval. for they are the very
group Of employees who. through their
legislative committees, have been en-
gagged for years In lobbying at Washing.
ton and every State capital for full
% 10 redue. tSs ne .csnes of opsra
alton. and who at this moment are re-
fusing to arbittate and threatening 10
tie up every railway In the country ana
paralyze Its commerce and industry.
THE railways have no assurance, II
they grant the demand for q counter
felt eight hour day. that the added ex-
pense thus imposed will be Offset by an
adequate Increase In rates. They nave
no assurance that they will secure arbi-
tarton of the other demands Of these
employees. They have no assurance that
they will secure arbitration Of their own
proposals to the employees. Nor have
they any assurance that they will be
given protection by Congress from
strikes In future.
History Repeating Itself.
Let me emphasize the fact that his
tory il but repeating itself in the pres
ent crisis. for two years ago there was
equal menace of a strike on the West.
then made to their patriotisn. the rail-
way managers yielded Nothing was
done either by the President or Con-
gross AS the result OF that experience
to prevent the development Of ire IKE ike
railway managers. but, on the other
hand. they are confronted by practical
| ly the same ultimotum. and that they
shall even sacrifice the one remaining
THE railways know that II they yield
! to the present demands OF n compare.
lively small percentage OF the total
number of their employees they-will re,
| ccive like demands from the rest. and
that these concessions to all employees
| Will cost at least 500. .ooo. .oco. and prob.
ably Sp0. .0O0.c0 year They know. too
that II they SUBMIT now to the prop
| osition made to them by the President
they will be denounced by the business
interests, Of tho country for having
given up the principle of arbitration
| when every factor In the dispute points
1 to the justice Of their cause.
| Confronted by such conditions. and
\ borne down by a solemn sense OF theiI
responsibility to their employees. &c
business interests Of all kinds. to the
4 1CO. O0n.c00 people Of the United State,
and to their stockholders. what couIt
the heads of the railways do but refuss
to yield. md then calmly but resolutei,
face the possibilities OF the situation ~
full confidence that their action vii
receive the unqualified indorsement and
support OF the business interests Of the
country and tho public at large. who
have ~ yet been denied all opportunit,
to be heard"