Connecticut western news., 1916-09-28
THE CASE FOR' THE RAILROADS

attitude of the four big railway broth erhoods.
 The PresideH: and the labor leaders say you cannot arbitrate a quel tion like the eight-hour day and that so ciety has settled the questio' As t" the settlement of the eight-hour prin ciple. 1t is interesting to remember that California voted on the subject only two years ago The vote in Cali. fOrnia was an ectua test of American public opinion on the question. The California voters passed on the eight hours day in aD election held Nov. 3 1914. The result was 5GO.SG1 against and 2S2.69G for the eight hour day: or tn, fifty-eight counties in California the eight-hour day failed to carry one In San Francisco tho adverse majority was smallest. being -0.9C0 against to 49.G29 for. In Los Angeles the vote was 133.7G' against to 74,5S3 for.
 This is the only official expression oi the popular will on record that know of and the result was (as naturally to be expected because most people In the world have to work more than
 
 clerk. the storekeeper, the teacher. the minister. the doctor. thousands of good wives. mothers. daughters. and sisters in caring for their homes, the man of business. even the President of the United States. And every one ol the railroad presidents who signed the declaration of principles to the Presl dent have all their lives worked more than eight hours a day. Nearly all of them rose from the ranks-trainman locomotive engineer. locomotive fire man, clerk. telegraph operator, level rodman-and they have a very deep an human sympathy with the men in the service And we may without dis respect to the President take issue with him as to whether or not the United States is far enough along in its hietorx and development to adopt definitely the eight-hour day.
 Those who made the American Ma tion what it is today worked long and hard. We hear that eight hours or less work day Is all that strong. healthy man should do. Where would the United States now be if our forefathers had been content with eight hours work a day? Where will the United States be in the race for future com mercial supremacy among the nations if this spirit continues? We have ships to build. railways to develop. an army and navy to be manned, and countless tasks to perform. Every patriotic man should give the best that is in him. not the least, if We are to avoid serious diff iculties at home and abroad
 The American people are a just and generous people and they wish to re duce want and hardship to mini mum; but they do not like to be taken bys the throat by any body of 100000 men and made to do something before they understand its present and future effects.
 Some are speaking of the present prosperity of the railways. It is true that they are enjoying large gains com pared with year ago in both gross and net earnings. but no one can tell what conditions will be when the dreadful European war ends. Costs of operation are increasing in all direc tions. The cost of materials used by railways has advanced from 100 to 700 per cent. Necessary improvements have been deferred; and in spite of the pres ent prosperity the railways have seri ous problems ahead. The question of meeting the growing cost of operation Is serious one, When we speak of the present prosperity of the railways we should also recall the losses in the lean years A good business concern nl ways looks out in prosperous years for the poor years that are bound to come
 In time of profound peace in this country the railways are congestel and cannot carry satisfactorily the to tai load. What could they do in their present condition if the added burden of war were thrown upon them: Many industries would have to stop because the railways first duty would be to handle the men and material in cident to war
 The President and Congress have placed heavy burden upon the rail ways and the people of the country in their surrender to the demands of the brotherhoods before the effect of those demands upon the organization and of ficien"y of the railways could be ac curately determined. The owners and managers. as loyal citizens of the com try. will do their best to carry thai burden and furnish to the people the needed service if. after ample thought it is proved that the new law ir right If. however, the nasty action just talk en results in industrial disturbance poorer service. Endeveloped railways higher rates. demOralized business, md higher cost of living. the owners. the employees, and the public will all suf fer. It is most earnestly to be hopch that the people will insist that Con gress take mp prompt, the whole sub ject and adjust it fairly to all, and show the moral courage and force tn correct the mistake that has been made
 The action akcn in Washington does not ,'eem to breathe q spirit of justice to the railway owners anG others vital
 Iy interested i'll the tntc%rity of tho in