New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
Arbitrate or Fail.

1t goes without saying that the street
car men of this city are entirely within
their rights in joining a labor union
whether the incentive TO organize them
selves comes from their own number or
from "aliens," as Mr.. Shonts terms the
representatives Of the Amalgamated As
ISOLATION Of Street and Electric Railway
Employees. Moreover, if the men, thus
unionized, desire TO strike for higher
wages and better working conditions that
also is entirely within their rights.
But the public, too, has rights. 1t is not
only the right but the duty of the street
railway companies to maintain car ser
vice as nearly uninterrupted as the ex-
igencies of their situation will permit
And on this the public will insist, what
ever the effect may be on the fortunes of
the strikers or the operating companies
The fact the streetcar workers will do
well to ponder before the calling out Of
men goes any further. If they cannot tie up
the transportation lines Of this city their
strike will be a partial failure. If they
cannot make an overwhelming demonstra-
ton of ability TO paralyze the surface, ele-
waited and subway systems they will in
evitably have to be satisfied with obtain
ing something less than the full extent
of their demands.
It is idle 10 believe that they will be
able thus to paralyze the city's transpor-
tation system. Such a condition would be
intolerable. Manifestly they cannot do it
without violence, for the companies have
men ready to step into the places left va
cant by strikers. And the moment that
the strikers attempt TO do by violence
what they have perfect right to attempt
to do peaceably, they become lawhreakers,
directly and specifically violators of the
laws They arraign themselves as a
class against the interests of the public as
d whole, and they justify by that course
the use of the police and, if necessary,
the militia to subdue them in their riot
ing.
The streetcar men have grievances
which any person sympathetic with the
lot of the workers must desire to see
righted. The employees of the surface
lines here are ill-paid by comparison with
those in many large cities, and they en-
dure the hardships common to their bust
ness in aggravated form. They deserve
better pay; they deserve fairer and de-
center working conditions. Any means
they take TO obtain a better lot, short Of
violence, undoubtedly will be supported by
a large part Of the public. The traction
officials, spurred into generosity by the
gravity of the situation, announce public
w their willingness to meet employees of
the companies in conference. That should
be done.
1t will pay the workers, and it will pay
transit offcialdom,' TO swallow little
pride and compromise their differences. In
this course they will find ready to aid them
the Mayor, the Public Service Commits
sion, the business men of the city. Neither
side in this lamentable quarrel is an ir-
resistible force; neither can afford to con-
slider itself an immovable body. Both
will be hurt TO a greater extent than
sane, calm wisdom warrants if they in
sist on fighting TO the bitter end.
The public will and must have ade-
ouate transit service. It will not tolerate
violence and rioting 1t will be better and
cheaper, in the long run, for the com
panies to improve working conditions
than to stand the cost Of a prolonged
fight, and it will be better for the men
TO take what they can get by arbitration
than to force the fighting. If both sides
are sensible, they'll compromise and con-
tinue able to do their duty to the public.