South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-21
Wilson Way Is
The Better Way,
Says The Monitor

was not prevented. il proceeds. These
two facts are worthy OF careful con
sideration. Pres't Wilson has been
severely criticized in some quarters
because of the methods he advised
and urged. and succeeded in having
adopted. in order that a nationwide
tieup OF railway traffic be averted.
This criticism continues. but the rail-
ways and their men are at peace and
the public has escaped the inconven-
fence, and the enormous cost. OF an
ocean-to-ocean suspension Of trans
portation. The president took the
course of recommending to congress
that a law calculated TO meet the
emergency with which the nation
was confronted be enacted. He took
this course in response 10 an almost
universal public demand that a rail-
way tieup be prevented, at almost
any cost He took what seems 10
have been the only course open 10
him. 1t succeeded, and the country
grateful for it's success, went about
its business. There were those, how
ever. who felt that the manner of
obtaining an agree nent from the
10000 trainmen was compromising
the dignity Of the government. 1t
was, they claimed, and are still
claiming. a surrender 10 force.
A week ago, when it was reported
that the marlborough in New York
had succeeded in breaking the local
traction strike, one of the leading
newspapers of that city published an
editorial contrasting the result with
that obtained by the president. Here
is a case in which peace has been
secured with honor How contempt
IDLE is the course taken by the ad-
ministration and by congress. when
compared with the manly stand Of
the New York traction management
The strikers wanted arbitration. said
another newspaper of like sympa
thies, and one that condemned the
president for not insisting on arbi-
tratiOn in the case of the railroads,
but there was nothing TO arbitrate;
there are times when backbone and
not arbitration is the essential thing.
The traction strike is over
But the traction strike was not
over. nor is il over now. on the con-
trary. the manner of announcing
that it was over. and the eXultation
INDUCED in by certain newspapers
with regard TO what they claimed as
a victory for 'uncompromising firm
ness" in dealing with the unions,
evidently had the effect of tanning
the flame until the discomfort among
the employees blazed up more threat
eningly than ever. Not only that
but tn. bOasting OF the traction in
terests and of their mOuthpieces over
an assumed victory, aroused SYM
pathy for the strikers among their
fellow tradesmen in New York and
in other cities.
In the trainmen's case. refusal to
arbitrate the eight-hour question was
based upon the contention that the
eight-hour question had long since
passed the stage of arbitration; that
the eight-hour day had long ago
ceased 10 Ire a theory and had be-
come a recognized condition. With
this position Pres't Wilson practical
~ agreed. Because he did not as
sist in forcing arbitration upon the
men, however, he is criticized. In
the New York traction case, the
public service commission. taking a
part very similar 10 that performed
by the president in the closing days
OF last month, proposes arbitration
Of the differences between the Inter-
borough corporation and allied in
terests and the men, with "A truce in
the interim. Theodore T. Shonts.
president of the InterborOugh cor
pOration and allied interests, fatty
refuses 10 accept this proposal. be-
cause the differences referred 10 re-
solve themselves into discussion of
the two-year contracts made by the
marlborough with more than TO-
900 of its employees. we do not
intend 10 submit TO any person or
body of men," says Mr.. ShOnts, in a
statement issued on Wednesday and
addressed ITO All Employees. the
question whether these agreements
should have been made between
you and US
The public service commission s
plan for arbitration of the matter of
I individual contracts and the union 5
charge that these contracts were oO-
tanned through representation
and coercion; that the men and the
companies resume conferences where
they left off at the declaration Of the
/ strike, and that the strike be de-
clared off pending the settlement OF
these questions. These provisions
are, as nearly as could be. consider
ting the difference in circumstances,
in line with those proposed by the
president in the railway dispute.
The New York public service COM
mission. however has not the in
/ huence or the power Of president
OF the United States. Ii cannot
summon 10 its aid a legislative body
that would pass. as did congress. a
law to meet the emergency. AS in
the railway dispute, capital and la
Dor refuse 10 come together in
agreement. As in the railway dis
pute. the public Is the most deeply
interested party. Who VIII say that
il would not be in the interest OF all
concerned if, in New York as in
washington, the public welfare
should be recognized as the primal
. factor in the EQUATION