The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-10-26
BY FRANK G. ODELL.

BY FRANK G. ODELL.
Editor NsbraJka Farm nosozins.
The farmers OF America recently
faced crisis, from which they were
delivered by prompt action by the
President Of the United States - the
threat Of nationwide railway strike.
The railway managers and the repre-
sentatives OF the 100000 employed I'm
train service were deadlocked over
hours Of labor and wage schedules.
President Wilson volunteered to act as
mediator, but had no power to force
arbitration. An impasse was reached.
The Brotherhoods issued a strike or.
der effective on Labor Day, Sept 4.
The railroad arrangements showed that
they recognized the lmminence of the
strike. Embargo orders were issued
on freight shipments. Supplies and
strike breakers were modified. The
country waited. breathless, for the
storm to break. 1t was apparent that
neither side was bluf1ing.
The President saw n national calam-
ity impending. He called leaders Of
his party into conference with him,
and with them wrote the bill present
ed to congress with the special mes
sage Of the President next day.
Neither tho railroads nor tho railway
5rotherhoods were consulted. Neither
side know what the bill contained,
neither made any demand OF had tho
slightest influence in tho framing Of
tho bill.
That portion of the bill providing an
eight-hour day for employees engaged
In the operation OF trains became a
law. 1t was accepted by the Brother
hoods, the strike order was cancelled
and the calamity was averted.
No class stood to lose so much from
the strike as the farmer. A single week
of inactivity in freight md express
service would have paralyzed his mar
ket for q month or more. Coming at
tho time Of marketing of perishabIe
products, his loss from this source alone
would have run into millions.
Staggering Losses Averted.
1t is estimated by the railroad man.
agement that the increase In wages
because of the eight-hour day will
amount to from $50, 100000 to 500 OOO,-
600 year. Allowing their highest fig
ure, $1oo,ooo,ooo, the farmers Of the
United States would have lost moro
than this in thirty days had there not
been a man in the White House biz
enough to protect the interest of tho
whole people.
Five cents a bushel on wheat is easy
picking for the pit gamblers when they
can play the market at their own
sweet will. 1t would have meant fifty
million dollars loss to the farmers on
the billion bushel crop
JameS X. Armsby, one OF the largest
shippers OF fruit In California, q Re
publican, recently said that If the
strike had taken place 1t would have
bankrupted many OF the fruit growers
Of that State. He said Il would have
caused a loss Of not less than $4,000
900 TO the fruit Industry Of California
alone. This amount is probably much
too low.
The peach crop now going to market,
with a value Of about SIS, 1000 900,
would have been practically a total
'NS~s tHO N[SSfSSSfNOO dPPio crop "OulQ
have been Shrunk by half in value.
Tho potato crop, of a value Of about
$22oooo,o 900, would have involved a fur
ther loss of at least $5o,ooo,ooo. The
cabbage farmer OF Northern Ohio. the
grower OF tomatoes for the cannerv
and the celery grower OF Michigan and
Florida would have kept mournful
company. Melons from Colorado. Cali.
fornia, Arizona and Delaware grapes
from western New York and from va.
kima and Wenatchee prunes, pickles.
poultry, butter and eggs should have
gone down I'm the common cataclysm.
What would a strike have meant To
the live stock market OF the farmer?
And what would It have meant TO the
consumer. with the cold storage faciH-
ties In control OF the packers combine?
Would Have Parslyzed Industry.
The direct and immediate loss which
the farmer would have sustained An
case OF a strike Is but one phase OF tho
danger which threatened his interests.
The depressing influence upon market
prices, resulting from the inability OF
consumers to buy because OF lack OF
employment, would have been felt I'm
every item OF this years farm prod
ucts. Take this single instance. This
telegram. sent to President Wilson Oh
September % by Henry Ford. the
worlds greatest automobile manufac.
turer:-
The President-The moment Il Is
positively known that a strike will
become effective on the railroads.
tho Ford Motor Company viii OF
absolute necessity shut down its
factory and all OF it's assembly
plants throughout the country. and
every man Of its more than 5000
workers Will have to go off the pay
roll
/ sincerely hope something can be
done 20 avert the strike. Your Of
forts are appreciated and should
be commended by every citizen ln
the country.