The Alaska daily empire., 1916-09-04
A GREAT WEEKS WORK

The passage of the Adadmson bill. which ayerted railroad strike and saved the United from the disaster and paralysis that would have followed the tying up Of practically ail the great railroad sys tems Of the country. marks the consummaton of one og the greatest trumphs Of President Wilson's Of wonderful service Co his country.
 President Wilson did intervene in the threat ened strike until the Board Of Mediation failed to range settlement of the differences between the railroads and their employees Then he summoned the railroad workingmen-oyer 600 Of them-then the railroad Presidents He told both that there was a third party to the controyersy-a party whose inter greater than that of either the railroads or their employees-the public. and that it was the duty Of employer and employee alike give due consideration to the rights of this third party. He quickly arrived at the conclusion that the working g Nfaen S demand Tor eight-hour day just and supported by the experience and Judgment Of the American people. On the other hand he frankly told the railroad owners that they had a right operate their roads profit. He suggested that the eight hour day should go into effect immediately; that the Interstate Commerce Commission or some other au- thOrity should be granted the power arbitrate the other differences. and that the Interstate Commerce Commission should be authorized take into the extra railroads that would result from the eghthour day and such overtime compensation as arbitrators might decide be fair and equitable The workingman accepted this suggested solution Of difficulties The railroad officers. after much hesitation declined. and suggested in turn that the eighthour day should go into effect until the other matters under discussion setted-in other words that the whole settlement should be made a the same time The workingmen refused to accept this proposition and ordered the walk-out to take place today-Sepember 4 The railroad companies ordered traffic embargoes and began preparations for the suspension of train operations within less than week.
 That was the situation that confronted the Presi- dent few days ago. He had barely five days in which to solve the problem of averting a strike and caami,y-a calamity that would have been greater than war. In order solve 1t legislation had be thae were left. Those who have watched the course oC important legislation through the houses Of American Congress can realize the enormy of the task
 But President Wilson does not shrink at large undertakings He went to the capitol conferred with the leaders Of Congress- arranged for joint session Of the two branches delivered notable message to them suggested legislation. The suggested pan-the one that the President had presented in the begin ning-was drafted into a bill which introduced by Representative w. C. Adamson. Of Georgia, chair man Of the House committee interstate commerce passed by the House. sent the Senate and passed there Saturday afternoon just after the President had delivered his great speech accepting the nomna ton for President
 Today all the trains Of the United States are moving carrying passengers and the product of farm and factOry-and the wheels of industry and merce are revolving as usual
 Never in the history of the head of a Nation republic monarchy-was a greater weeks work per formed with more neatness or less friction-and all because Of the clear vision. sound Judgment. courag patriotism. daring democracy and undisputed American leadership of President Woodrow Wilson