La Junta tribune., 1916-09-23
Was 1t n Political Framc-Up?

fTeelucNt WILSON 10 ADOPT so extra
ordinary and unprecedented course
IN dealing with the railway wage
question? Why did he propose and
insist that, without any public inves-
tigation of the question involved
the railways should grant increases
in wages amounting to millions OF
dollars 10 men who are already the
highest paid workingnen in Amer
lea? The burden win ultimately be
passed on to the consuming public
without giving that public chance.
directly or indirectly to be heard
We do notintend to make any
charges against Mr. Wilson. We do
intend, however, 10 present a series
Of facts, the knowledge of which has
forced US to reach certain conclu-
sions regarding his conduct. and
which we are confident will cause
most OF those who are informed of
them to draw from them the SANE
conclusions that We have.
\ man in Washington who is Ms
ually well informed regarding what
is going on behind the scenes In ths,
city, wrote remarkable letter To a
prominent business man in New York
remarkable because OF the aecu-
racy with which It forecast such de.
yelopments. A copy OF this letter
was handed to Us on August s,b
and we kept 1, to see how good
prophet the writer was. We quote
from this letter as follows tall ital-
les being oursi:
Il believe there IS an understand
ing between Gompers head of the
American Federation OF Labor. and
the Administration. that this strike
which is threatened, will not hurt
the Administration. am further
given TO understand that Mr. Samuel
Gomprrs has assured the President
that an opportunity will be given
hime to make capital out OF the dif-
ficulty. This Is TO be done in this
way: The men were to reject all com
promise offers by the railroads; ther
are TO look askance on the mediation
offered by the Board Of Mediation
and Control Cconciiiationl thus Civ
Ing the President a chance to inter
yene personally and bring both sides
to the White House The proposition
which We will submit will in all
probability be accepted bythe labor
leaders. thus putting the onus Of re-
lection Of his services on the railroad
men lotiicers.l II a commission s.
appointed under these circumstance
Il Is easy TO see how 1t will not be
entirely friendly 90 the railroads
.zilahurthrdlu en- wfhldrpy n
Nu. then was The man who pr.,~
fba' l0t'cr a pr0phet2 lie eertainiy
was, tlp Gompor Is supporting
Wilson Tor reelection. and has heen
m rluHe touch with b8,a 'hs White
House and the iabo= Ero'b,rho1ds.
go The men dld reject an efforts
made by the railways fab They aid
look askaueD az mediation and re-
fused 10 Join with the railways IN
asking for Il. 90 They did give the
President a chance 10 intervene per
sonally and bring both sides 10 the
White House 90 The President did
make a proposition which the labor
leaders Immediately accepted. thus
putting the onus OF rejection Of his
services entirely on the railroads.
The President has acted through
out like a man who had entered into
a previous understanding that he
would do certain things and who was
anxious to deliver the goods prompt
ly and In as good condition as pos.
sible. II he was playing politics.
recent Developments have been show
ing that he has been playing very
poor politics, He has done nothing In
his administration that has worked
as much harm as the policy he
has adopted In dealing with the rail-
way-strike Editorial. Railway
Axe Gazette. Sept /. 1916.