The Monte Vista journal., 1916-10-21
By FRANK C. ODELL
Editor of the Nebraska Farm Magazine

The farmers of America recently
faced a 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 a strike
order effective on Labor Day. Septem-
Der f. The railroad arrangements
showed that they recognized the i'm
minence of the strike. Embargo Or
ders were issued on freight shipments.
Supplies and strike breakers were mo-
bilIzed. The country waited, breath
lessly, for the storm to break. 1t was
apparent 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
ther the railroads nor the railway
brotherhoods were consulted. Neither
side knew what the bill contained;
neither made any demand, or had the
slightest 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 4 month or more. Com
Ing at the time Of marketing Of perish
able products, his loss from this
course alone would have run into mil
lions.
1t is estimated by the railroad man.
agements that the increase In wages
because Of the eight-hour day will
amount to from $5O,OOO,OOO to $780,
Uo,OOO year. Allowing their high
est figure, 100000, 900, 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 a bushel on wheat Is
easy picking for the pit gamblers
when rney can play the market al
their own sweet will. 1t would have
meant $5O,OOOOOO dollars loss to the
farmers on the billion bushel crop.
James K. Armsby, one Of the larg-
est shippers Of fruit in California, a
Republican, recently said that If the
strike had taken place 1t would have
Dankrupted many Of the fruit growers
VI that State. He said It would have
caused a loss Of not less than $2o,ooo,-
WV to the fruit industry Of California
a'one. This amount is probably much
too low.
The peach crop now going to mar
ket' with a value Of about $55,0o0, 900,
would have been practically a total
loss The 5000, 100000 apple crop
would have shrunk by half in value.
me potato crop, of value Of about
seeo,oooooo would have involved
further loss Of at least $5o,ooo,ooo The
eaooage farmer of Northern Ohio, the
sro"er OF tomatoes for the cannery,
una the celery grower of Michigan and
florida would have kept mournful
.onpany. Melons from Colorado, Cali
.orhia, Arizona and Delaware, grapes
ron western New York, and from
iaKima and Wenatchee, prunes, pick
,es poultry, butter and eggs would
nave gone down in the common cata-
clysm.
"hat would strike have meant to
,ne nVe stock market Of the farmer?
anu "hat would 1t have meant to the
tohsuner, with the cold storage facili-
blne?
would Have ParaIyzed Industry.
Inc direct and immediate loss which
'e farmer would have sustained In
,e a'e Oh strike Is but one phase of
sne uanger which threatened his inter-
o.s The depressing influence upon
,het anm,A prices, resulting from the in
ol,''y OF consumers to buy because Of
,a,. A OF employment, would have been
-" 10 every Item Of this years farm