The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-06-24

demands of the employees, but eliminat-
ing the majority of existing double
compensation rules. The Union leaders
declared that any compromise would be
rejected which abolished double pay for
two classes Of service performed by the
same employee, but said they were will
ing to compromise on the other main
issues.
AS a result of the failure to reach a
settlement, more than 100000 Union
and non-Union workers of America will
vote within the next three weeks on the
advisability Of calling general strike to
enforce their demands for an eight hour
day, and time and half for overtime,
which the railway companies claim
would virtually mean rs per cent.
increase in wages. The Brotherhood
leaders are confident that more than IS
per cent. of the men will vote in favor
of a general strike, which, however,
cannot be called until all efforts toward
an amicable adjustment of differences
have failed.
Perhaps few people can form the
slightest conception Of what general
railway strike over the country would
mean. It might even be the beginning
of the great civil war in the United
States between labor and capital, which
has been predicted for the past thirty
years. 1t would cause the complete
paralysis of industrial activity. From
financial and business standpoint, it
would be far more disastrous than war
with Mexico; both now seem highly pro-
bable. An editorial in The Chicago
Tribune, of June II, says:
Perhaps the railroad employees can
afford a general railroad strike. Per-
haps the railroad managers also can af-
ford one. We doubt it, but it may be.
''The public cannot afford railroad
strike. A general strike of railroad en-
ployes will mean the complete cessation
of business. 1t may even mean starva-
ton in the larger cities. 1t will be more
disastrous to America than ten wars
with Mexico.
'The four strongest unions Of rail
road employees have refused arbitration
of their demand for an eight hour day.
Perhaps they should have an eight hour
day. Perhaps the railroad operators
are wrong. But whatever the justice of
their demands is, their refusal to sub
nit them to the interstate commerce
commission means that they are pre-
pared to sacrifice the nation to their sell
fish class interest.
eff there ever was time for citizens
! to write to their congressman it is now.
The nation will have to intervene in this
railroad strike for lf-protection. The
nation wants justice done to both sides.
Justice will not come from permitting
a fight between the railroad employees
and employers. All that can possibly
come of it will be intense suffering
throughout the country. The public will
not long maintain the role of innocent
bystander.
'The interstate commerce commission
should be empowered to prevent this
threatened railroad strike Congress
can so empower it. This is a national
emergency. Write to your congressman
about it,"
An editorial in The Chicago Herald of
the same date also says:
"Some compromise must be reached
The controversy has been widely and
thoroughly discussed in the press and
by civic bodies. 1t must have become
clear that public opinion will not toler-
ate going to the extremity of a general
tie-up of transportation, paralyzing
commerce and industry and threatening
famine to great cities.
'What makes the situation menacing
is that the railway managers feel that
their backs are to the wall-that they
cannot grant the mems full demands
without bankrupting the properties for
which they are trustees. On the other
hand, though signs have appeared that
many of the men consider the demands
excessive-they were approved on sew
eral large systems by very narrow ma
jorities-the union officials seem resolv-
ed to press them to the limit.
Public opinion is so clearly and
strongly against a strike that it seems
incredible that the union leaders would
be sustained in refusing arbitration
when it comes to a final choice between