Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-30
SUFFERING PREDICTED
IF STRIKE IS CALLED
Impending Walkout of Greater Mo.
ment Than Civil War, Says
Erie President.

SHdTdclerlZfng tho Impending Slr1ke
as of greater moment than the civil
war. and predicting that suffering
among the people will cost the strikers
public sympathy and result in a quick
termination of the demonstration, F..
D. Underwood. president of the Erie, and
member of the executives advisory
committee, has issued the following
statement:
by comparison, the civil war was
small matter compared with what the
threatened strike would be II 1t be-
came effective When that war broke
out the government called $4,000 men
to the colors. A strike would effect far
more men than that on the Pennsyl-
vania railroad alone. More men would
be involved In the strike than the
total number on both sides who took
up arms in the civil war.
There is no doubt in my mind that
Congress will settle this controversy,
and speedily and for all time, because
1t is a matter far beyond politics
Democrats, republicans, progressives,
prohibitionists and suffragists would
all starve together If the strike should
be launched.
Sees Higher Cost Of Living.
THE high cost of living has received
an impetus today. 1t will be increased
by incalculable millions because 1t is
going to take more men to produce
things. If they get the shorter hours.
and thereby the price Of everything
produced will be increased.
THE railroads did not resist the
eight-hour day. They resisted the
basic eight-hour day, or ten hours pay
for eight hours work. I don't believe,
if Congress passes the eight-hour day
mea sure recommended by President
Wilson. that any succeeding Congress
will have the temerity to repeal it. 1t
will be here to stay
Il cannot believe that Congress will
fail to pass law that will afford such
relief to the situation as will preclude
a strike.
Strike Will Be Short, Claim.
IF the strike goes into effect it will
not, In my opinion. last very long. The
length of 1t. however. will depend upon
its acuteness. II the railroads muster
enough men into their train service to
~ cHcilI great suffering among the peO-
pie, the strike may last long time and
become contest of attrition between
the railroads and the>brotherhoods.
"If the suffering is acute. the strike
will not last long. because the people,
even those who might sympathize with
the strikers, would not continue to be
sympathetic toward them If their food
were cut off. If the railroads fail to
muster enough men to prevent great suf-
ferlng among the people. the strikes own
weight will overtop it.
"Bluff" Good Dog, He Says.
II am sure, and I say this knowingly,
that the four brotherhood chiefs bluffed
the administration and, fortunately for
them, their bluff was not called. In their
case blur was good dog
THE trouble is that there is an over
production of railroads in some parts of
the United States and an under produc-
ton In other parts. Capitalists will not
build new lines anywhere. because they
do not like the attit,Ge Of some labor or
CARNATIONS. Private enterprise offers too
many returns for them to risk their cant
tai in building new railroad lines.
They will wait until after an adjust
ment has been reached and then 20 on
building again