The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-08
Editorial Comment
Ion Current Subjects
THE DUTY OF CONGRESS.
From the Baltimore Sun (Dem.)

From the Baltimore Sun (Dem.)
Obviously Congress cannot afford to
leave the matter as It stands at pres
emit. In the circumstances, 1t was
forced to surrender In order to pro.
tect the life Of the country. With a
pistol at his head man is glad enough
to save himself by any means in his
power. But the interests of society
and the dignity and self.respect of the
government demand that no such hu.
initiating incident as this shall be per.
mftted to occur again. Congress- has
legislated for the benefit of the train.
men. 1t will be derelict in its obliga.
ton II 1t does not carry out the Presi.
dents recommendations and legislate
also for the benefit of the vast major.
ity of the American people. The train.
men object to the Canadian form OF
arbitration, but that fact ought not to
influence Congress in the slightest de.
gree. At least so per cent. of the
American people want a definite as.
surance that they will not again be
subjected to the compulsion of broth.
erhood threats whenever the members
of the railroad unions take it into their
heads to make a new demand. They
chose their time well this year when
the menace of a strike was peculiarly
serious to both business and political
interests. IL no further legislation is
passed. how can the country know that
the same thing will not occur again
two years hence or four years hence?
The government Of the United
States is founded on the principle OF
square deal for everybody. There
can be no privileged or favored classes
under 1t without weakening its foun.
dations. Popular wrath against cor.
porations was aroused to fever heat a
few years ago because that principle
was violated in favor Of capital. But
favoritism in any form is repugnant
to the American sense Of justice, and
tyranny is as abhorrent when exer.
cised by the union as when exercised
by the corporation. The fnsolent and
dictatorial attitude assumed by the
brotherhood leaders in connection with
this strike business has disguised all
fair.minded men. They carried their
defiance OF public opinion so far as to
announce Immediately after the pas.
sage OF the emergency measure by the
Senate that they would not rescind
the strike order until the ball became
a law with the Presidents signature
attached. And the extraordinary spec.
tacle was presented Saturday evening
at the capital Of this country OF the
President Of the United States having
to beg the big railroad chiefs, through
MS Secretary Of Labor. to call of the
strike before his actual signature was
appended to the measure, and to &C.
cept his word Of honor as q gentleman
that he would sign It without fail
bright and early Sunday morning.
The Republicans in the Senate put
on very pious airs In the debate on Sat.
urday and one might have imagined
from their talk that they had never
been in close partnership with special
interests. II they are as virtuous as
they pretend to be, they will unite with
the Democrats now in completing the
Presidents scheme OF railroad legisla-
tton. AS 1t stands, the measure passed
by Congress Is ineffective for the pro.
lection OF the interests of the Ameri.
can people in similar controversies
hereafter, and 1t forms a precedent
that is as dangerous to the equity Of
Republican institutions as It is morti.
flying to our sense Of political man
hood.
We are heartily glad, We say once
more, that the country has been saved
from the disaster of great railroad
strike: but it will be national misfor.
tune IL Congress leaves the question Of
a permanent cure tinsolved and per-
mits the germ Of trouble to linger un.
touched, ready to breed another out.
break at any moment. What we need
is not merely an anaesthetic. but an
antitoxin.