New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-03

would have been compelled TO give
Congress time to work out a perma
nent solution Of the problem, Senator
Borah, of Idaho. told the Senate to-day
that he knew the trainmen represented
by the brotherhood chiefs would not
have gone out had Congress given any
assurance of its intention to proceed
with the consideration of legislation
pertaining to the labor situation.
"While respect organized labor and
believe in it, am not afraid OF it,"
said Borah. 81 am afraid Of it for
the reason that ! have confidence and
faith in the great body of workingmen.
II has been said that these leaders were
powerless TO withdraw this strike or
der; that they were not in position
to render ineffective the order which
had been sent out. | will not here and
now dispute that proposition. may
be in error | do not want to pass
judgment upon men so highly certified
to in character as the leaders of those
organizations. although | have my own
opinion as to that proposition.
Men Could Have Cancelled II.
I'VE seem to have overlooked the
proposition that there were those who
could have rendered nugatory that
strike order and that is the great body
OF men for whom these representatives
are merely the agents.
81 will not join myself in an indict-
ment against the Americanism of the
men who operate these trains that they
would not have terminated this strike
as soon as they were assured that the
Executive and Congress were entering
in good faith on an investigation OF
this question. II is my candid opinion
and ! speak with some experience
that # Congress had passed resolu-
ton at the time the President sent this
matter to Congress, stating that u was
entering upon a comprehensive discus
sion and consideration Of this entire
question in good faith. for the purpose
of arriving az an intelligent conclusion,
passing upOn the right OF each and all
we proposed to proceed with the con
sidcration until il should be finally
worked out TO a fair conclusion for all
parties, these men who are operating
the trains Of the country would have
acceded and accepted the good faith Of
Congress.
Believes They Would Yield.
"Will you tell me that the men who
now hold the respect of their neighbors.
who are intrusted with the property
and lives Of hundreds Of thousands Of
our people would not have accepted
from the Executive Of the United
States and the great Congress the dec
laration that We were entering upon
this matter with the fullest intent 10
solve il. and that they would not have
postponed calamity?
"No severcr indictment could be
drawn against the patriotism and the
character and intelligence Of these men
than TO have said that, notwithstanding
that they had this assurance from the
great powers Of the country. they
decline to give the powers Of the coun-
try time to pass upon this question and,
rather than DO 50, enter into state Of
anarchy. They would not have done
so, and these men who say they were
powerlcss 20 call of the strike are mis-
taken.
proceeding as We do now, we proceed
without information. We proceed with
out any facts whatever. We have no
which can lead US TO one
conclusion or the other. We know
nothing about these wages and their
with other wages.
Facts Are Not Known.
1--WE are not permitted to know the
facts. / would like to ask how legls-
lators can legislate without facts upon
which 10 form IN opinion unless we
assume that we legislate by reason Of
the dictation Of another power.
81 want 20 know before ] vote TO in
crease freight rates for that is what
this means what are the incomes Of
the corporations, how the money is 10
be obtained. and what does it mean to
the people represent as well as TO
union labor. II we are up against the
proposition that we are yielding TO the
dictation and direction Of a body Of
men. then indeed the Congress Of the
United States has met the crisis of is
whole history. II, indeed, we are met
here with demand which we cannot
POSTPONE, which we must execute with
out information and. most of all. which
We propose TO execute without infor-
nation. then indeed the spirit Of the
fathers has departed and the halo
which has hung about this chamber
through century past will soon be .
dissolved.
81 cannot conceive that Congress. in /
holds has received the sanction Of so
ciety would apply il only 20 20 per .
cent Of the workers Of one industry. /
recognizing great principle which 1t +
We are leRislating in boundless fear .
md without the facts before US
what viii Laborers Say?
what viii the men on the tracks .
md in other positions on railroads /
whose duties are a. responsible, and /
who perform as essential "a service IN