Arizona republican., 1916-08-13
The Meaning of a Railroad Strike

The Meaning of a Railroad Strike
 Though the railway strike has yet been de- clsred and though both the railway managers and the brotherhood leaders yet in the stage of bluff the rest of us well be considering the effect of strike which would be the bitterest most far reaching one the industrial history of the country There would be involved in it directly 100000 How many would be involved indirectly and less remotely do not know, but the num- Der would mount up into the hundreds of thousands that the wages of the 100000 directly in voved amount to s2,OOOOOO day, about onethird as much the European is costing Great Britain Probably the wages of others or less remotely involved would twice much that total loss day would equal Great Britains daily bill All this money would be effeetually lost to the country at large as if it had away in shell and shrapnel. notwithstanding it would still remain the hands of the of the roads in the hands of shippers and other patrons of the roads. Money in circulation far the country Is concerned is the same as no money. So far as money loss is concerned. in the of such strike as impends We might we'll be engaged in a great 
 The cost of a of course is not the chief burden. Nor would the loss of money to the United States through country wide railroad strike be the chief loss The would be felt in every city. every hamlet and every home in the country. Busi- would be brought into state of suspension more nearly complete than if actual existed. In- dustries would cease. The whole country would be an attitude of heartbreaking suspense and waiting In that respect would be much off than any warning countries of Europe outside of the zones for there they have means of communication. There factories are humming there the busy and there the people buy whatever they money buy
 prolonged railroad strike in this country would push many an industrial concern and many chant against the wall. Scores, yes hundreds of newspapers throughout the country, dependent upon railroads for weekly monthly supplies of print paper (there are no reserve stocks) would be com peed to suspend publication. The products of the farm could not be moved and all that is perishable would be lost. There would be general paralysis.
 We think that both the railroads and the heads of the brotherhoods will hesitate to bring such situation Though neither is disposed to concede anything give the board of mediation. point of beginning the railroads have placed themselves favorably before the country by offering submit dispute arbitration If the brotherhoods finally reject arbitration they will be held responsible for whatever distress may ensue
 The roads cannot very well yield in a personal fight between themselves and their employees for that would probably mean another fight and further  yielding the expiration of any agreement that might be made If a board of arbitration should award to the brotherhoods all they ask the roads would be left in position to ask that their losses might be made up to them by increased
 As have before suggested this dispute should be to settlement by commerce com mission which is familiar with railroad condi- tions affecting both the roads and their employees than any other body. An award by the commission of the demands would probably be followed by authorization from the increase rates the present rates being based in part present wage and labor conditions
 It is not for the public to judge whether the de- mands Of the brotherhoods just not; whether fl they just. the roads afford to meet them without increase of their income That is something that be left to the roads to decide it be left to the brotherhoods decide The public a party the dispute. The dispute must be settled if to avoid disaster by disinterested body with full knowledge of all the facts order that justice may be done the railroads. their em- ployes and the public.