The sun., 1916-08-30

expected If they. should submit to the
regulation of their charges n Of
their methods Of service by public
legislation. Tho court has held that
i: would not undertake to form a judg-
ment upon forecasts. but could b,se
its action only upon actual experience;
that 1t must he supplied with facts. not
with calculations and opinions. how
ever scientifically attempted. To
undertake to arbitra,e the question of
the adoption of an eight hour day in
the light of results merely estimated
and predicted would I've to undertake
an enterprise OF conjecture. No wise
man could undertake IT, or. IL he did
undertake II, could feel assured Of
his conclusions.
Railroads Rejected the plan.
IL unhesitatingly offered the friendly
services ot the Administration to the
railway managers to see to ii that
justice vas done the railroads in the
outcome. felt warranted In assur-
ing them that no obstacle Of law
would he suffered to stand in the way
of their increasing their revenues TO
meet the expenses resulting from the
change So far as the development OF
their business and Of their admins
trative efficiency did lot prove ade-
uuate TO meet them.
The putlic and the representa-
tives Of the pablo. / fc.t justified in
assuring them, were disposed to Moth
ing but justice In such cases. and
We're wiling to serve those who served
them.
'Th" rer-esec,ntivas ~ tho hro'ho--
r~esentatives OF the railroads declined
To accept ii. In the face OF what /
cannot hut regard as the practical cer-
tainty that they will be ultimately
obliged TO accept the eight hour day
by the concerted action Of organized
labor. backed by the favorable jGdg-
ment of society. the representatives of
the railway management have felt JUS
tilted in declining "A peaceful settle
ment which would srgage all the
forces NJ justice. public and private. or
their side to take care OF the event.
They feel tn" hostile influence of ship
pers. who would be opposed to an in
! crease Of freight rates ,for which,
however, Of course, the public itself
would paw they apparently feel no
confidence that the Interstate Com
m"rce Commission could Withstand the
objections that would la made.
They do not care Ia rely upon the
friendly assurances %! the Congress NJ
the President. ThN have thought II
hest that they should he forced =
yield, IL they must yield, not 10y conn
rel. hut 10y the s~ufferins Of the coun-
try.
While my conferences with them
were in progress. and when To- all out.
ward appearance those conferences
lad come to "A standstiil. the rcprcseu.
tativcS Of the hrotherhoOds sudden,
acted aud set the strike for the lth u
September.
The railway managers based theil
decision tn reject my counsel N thu
matter upon their conviction tha'
they must at amy cost To thems.lVe.
or to the country stand firm for tn
principle of arbitration which the mci
had rejected,
81 based my counsel upon the indis
putahle fact that Their. was no NEAR
Of obtaining arbitration. The law
supplied none; earnest efforts at me
diation had failed to influence tn
men in the least. To stand firm 70
the principle Of arbitration and ye
not get arbitration seemed 10 m
futile and something more than fu
tile, because II involved incalculahl
distress to the country and consc
quences in some respects worse tina
those Of war, and that in The midst o
peace.