Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-09
WHAT FARMERS OWE TO PRESI.
DENT WILSON FOR AVERTING
RAILROAD STRIKE.
HIS COURAGE SAVED DAY
Loss of $1o0,ooo,OoO to Apple Crop,
100000 to Peach Crop, and $780,
100000 to Potato Crop, Only Drop
in the Bucket
By FRANK @. ODELL
Editor Of the Nebraska Farm Magazine

The farmers Of America recently
faced q crisis, from which they were
delivered by prompt action by the
President of the United StateS-the
threat Of the nationwide railway
strike. The railway managers and
the representatives of the 100000 men
employed in train service, were dead
locked over hours Of labor and wage
schedules. President Wilson vOlun-
teered to act as mediator, but had
no power to force arbitration. An
impasse was reached.
The Brotherhood issued strike
order effective on Labor Day, Septem-
Der 4. The railroad arrangements
showed that they recognized the i'm
minence Of the strike. Embargo or
dcrS were issued on freight shipments
Supplies and strike breakers were mo-
bilized The country waited, breath
Iessly. for the storm to break. 1t was
parent that neither side was bluff
fng.
The President saw a 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. Mel
Their the railroads nor the railway
orotherhoods were consulted. Neither
side knew what the bill contained;
neither made any demand, or had the
sIiuhtest influence in the framing Of
the 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
the calamity was averted.
No class stood to lose so much from
this strike as the farmer. A single
week of inactivity in freight and ex-
press service would have paraIyzed
his market for month or more. Com
ina at the time of marketing of perish
able products, his loss from this
course alone would have run into mil
lions.
Staggering Losses Averted.
1t is estimated by the railroad man
agementS that the increase in wages
because of the eight-hOur day will
amount to from $50000,000 to $780,
100000 year. Allowing their high
est figure, $1o0,o0o.ooo, the farmers
of the United States would have lost
more than this in thirty days had
there not been a man in the White
House big enough to protect the IN
terest of the whole people.
Five cents 4 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 $50,O00,0O0 dollars loss to the
farmers on the billion bushel crop.
James X. Armsby, one of the larg-
est shippers of fruit in California, Il
Republican, recently said that if the
strike had taken place it would have
bankrupted many OF the fruit growers
of that State. He said it would have
caused a loss of not less than $2o,Oo0,.
600 to the fruit industry of California
alone. This amount is probably much
too low.
The peach crop now going to mar
ket, with a value of about $55, 600, 900,
would have been practically a total
loss. The $2Oo,ooo,ooo apple crop
would have shrunk by half in value,
The potato crop, of value of about
$220,G00,000 would have involved a
further loss of at least $50 1000, 900. The
cabbage farmer of Northern Ohio the
grower of tomatoes for the cannery,
and the celery grower of Michigan and
Florida would have kept mournfu'
company