Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-08
Put Out the Fire First
New York World of September p

New York World of September -
The people who congress for hastily adopt
ing emergency legislation railroad strike
either they want a strike.
If congress failed this legislation through
and a strike followed these people before Tues
day night would be mporng congress and the presi-
dent and all the agencies of government TO settle the
strike at and any terms.
The hysterical shouters for settlement would
be the members of chambers of commerce and manu-
facturers associations who so smugly deplore the
surrender of the United government to the
pernicous demands of trades unionism the minute
their pocket touched the te-up of trafhc
there would be enough in the country to re-
spond to their screams.
These sef-appointed critics of the president and
congress have caught the spirit of biu from the rail-
roads and the unions think they ought to make a
voluntary contribution of their to the national
store of hypocrisy and false pretense They are all
brave and resolute until the strike comes Then
they would be the first to cover.
The immediate business of congress in the matter
of legislation dealing with this railroad situation is to
the bills that will give the public guarantees that
strike will take place next to prepare with
due and caution code of legislation that Will
safeguard the country Congress is deal
ing with condition, not theory The hrst duty Oh
doctor in an emergency is to save the patient
life not to prescribe system of moral and economic
conduct for him in the event that he survives
There is why congress should concern
itself this time with the waings Of the railroad
presidents against the eighthour bill The railroad
presidents helped to this situation They still
want strike. They would be glad to see every
facility of transportation paralyzed If they thought 1t
would wreck the unions They have no more regard
for the rights of the American people in this crisis
than the brotherhood leaders shown and tears
need be shed them because congress is jamming
an experimental eight-hour law down their threats.
Any injustice that stockholders is
to be remedied.
Congress in this matter the side of the public,
and that is where be- The advocates
of delay the advocates strike and of national
disaster
+ 1t is silly to charge congress with surrendering to
the unions. The unions had legal right to strike
when the strike ordered. There is not line on
any statute book which prevents their striking,
could any law be enacted before Monday which would
compel them to work. Whatever their moral guilt
may be- they within the law when they do the
thing they threaten to do. Therefore it is the
duty of congress take such practicable means as
may be adopted to remove the excuse for a
strike Whatever further adjustments are necessary
be left for the future That is the common-sense
method and congress is displaying far more ntell-
gence and patriotism than its critics.
The rights and wrongs Of this controversy yet
determined far they affect the railroads and
their employees. But the rights and wrongs of a rail-
they affect the public obvious
and incontestable philosophc fire department might
pausibly contend that it's chief duty extin-
guish the flames, but to frame a freproof building
code and strengthen the laws against That
would doubt admirable public service but in
the meantime the building would burn down. the fire
would communicate itself other buildings a
whole community would be left homeless.
We prefer the congressional Of putting out the
Are first and determining later whether it
cendiarv origin or defective wiring
the owner can legally collect his insurance.