The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-08-31
GETTING NEARER THE RAIL.
ROAD SHOWDOWN


road brotherhoods ordered the strike
Of trainmen and fixed date for it,
because they were not willing to
trust the railroad executives and the
shipping public. They feared that
if they delayed while negotiations
were carried forward they might be
enjoined against issuing the order
at all. So they acted while there
could be no question Of their inn
mediate right to do so.
1t is peculiarly unfortunate that
such a condition could have arisen.
1t puts the brotherhood leadership
in an unfortunate position before the
public; and it suggests the posi-
bility of intense bitterness develop
ing before a strike, if it shall actu-
ally take place, shall have proceeded
far. Beyond all this, moreover, it
gives lesson that ought to have
serious consideration. The whole
question of the bigger relations of
capital and labor has been permitted
to drift too far. 1t was supposed
that the Clayton act amendatory to
the antitrust law insured against in
|, functions in such cases. Yet it turns
out that there are Federal judges
that still assume the authority to is
sue just such DEGREES as the brother
hoods feared. At Omaha and also
at Kansas City, judges have enjoin-
ed the officers of the Order Of Rail
way Conductors against ordering a
strike. If it was possible for those
injunctions to issue, despite the
Clayton act, it would seem that the
brotherhood leaders were justified in
the fear that this very step would
be taken.
1t is charged that the brotherhood
organizers violated faith when they
issued the strike order while negotia-
lions were going on for settlement.
Whether or not there Yves any ex-
pressed understanding that they
would suspend proceedings so long as
the Presidents effort at mediation
was continued, there was certainly
reason to presume that courtesy to
the Chief Executive would dictate a
different course than has been taken.
But there is another side to that
question, too. The injunctions issued
at Omaha and Kansas City strongly
suggest that the other side to the
controversy was also planning to vio-
late the spirit of good faith by rush
ing in and getting these DEGREES be-
fore the strike should be started.
The public, looking at the proceed
ings on both sides, will be inclined to
conclude that both were guilty of a
bit of sharp practice.
While these developments are lay
ing a foundation of bad feeling that
bodies the most unfortunate results,
the precious hours are passing within
which remedial or preventive meas
ures must be taken if the strike is to
be avoided. There is no time to de-
bate constitutional aspects now. The
business in hand is first to do what
ever is necessary to prevent the
strike, and then to adopt, at leisure
and with plenty of consideration, the
measures that may provide perma.
nent basis for adjustment of the
whole set of questions.
1t is not too late for Congress yet
to save the day. The time is short
indeed; but not too short. If Con.
gress shall act with impressive
promptness and emphatic unanimity
it will do much to convince the dis.
putants that it means business and
will submit to no nonsense. That il
just what both sides need to have
impressed on them. They are both
getting into a bad temper, the dis.
position hourly grows more vicious
the willingness to let the public anG
the other fellow go hang, and damn
the consequences. This is no time
for principals in such a dispute tc
be damning the consequences. The
public is not going to submit to such
reckless dealings with matters that
involve it's very existence.
One word of admonition to leader.
on both sides before they commit
themselves to measures that may
arouse the ire of the nation.
The Nation is bigger than either
; railroad labor or railroad capital. i
has more power than either or boil
: of them; more power, even, than 4
can muster and utilize in such al
! emergency as this. 1t is in the mint
, to use that power. 1t will not b,
played horse with. 1t is getting int,
an ugly frame of mind, too. Gentle