Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-08-31
pITRIJC OPINION THE FINAL JUDGE

Scientists of speculative turn of mind have for gen.
erations discussed the problem Of what would happen
an irresistible force struck an lmmoyaoe ooq None ~
them have of been able to solve It, IL seems Ie
probem has been passed up to President Wilson ana ne
has passed to congress- Whether 1t can solve re-
mains to be seen Compulsory arbitration laws can oe
passed and arbitration can be perhaps elorceu ou '
that is done, what then! -.
Suppose the present dispute should be lett TO aroIr
ton and after the abtraors had decided Wha was IAN
between the and the roads, the men shouid sun re-
f1se to 90 to work? There is no law that Will compel
them to work if they do not want to- and there you are
Suppose the railroad contention as to arbitratlon
should be granted and when it was all settled the men
inst remained at home Would the situation be any
better than it is now? If there is law under which
men NAV be compelled to work than there no law tC
can control this situation nor can one be maze tat W
AS Senator Cummins pointed out yesterday law tia.
will compel men to work against their VIII is Involuntary
servude that borders on slavery The railroads beng
public utility can be compelled to do things Inc men De
ing free citizens of free country cannot Inc result
that unless the two parties employers ana employees c
get together and agree, there Is no law Ca' eii 'p
them to do So !.
standing by their guns and conceding nothing ana ths
is government ownership In time of danger to the cou
try men can be drafted into the army for the country
defense but whether this can be done IN time OF peace W
save the lives and property OF the nations ctzes IS an
open question Self preservation is natural law ana te
protection of it's citizens the duty of every government
and on top of all is the undoubed fact that necessity
knows no law. If all other plans fail the government Wl
no forced to take over the roads for the protection OF ls
citizens When hunger drives, thousands OF men Will
come to the front to run the engines manage the switches
and do the work the men refuse to do but 1t will take
time for them to learn the work and business Will surfer
untold loss while they learning but it would be done
eventually After that what? Would the country not oe
in danger of the thing happening at any time! IL
looks as though government ownership is the only re
solution that will prevent repetition OF present cond
tl0nS IT,
President Wilson has done all that man can DO he
has not taken sides in the controversy but has taken only
the peoples side showing the disputans how the people
will suffer from their acts in case of strike ana urging
some compromise. He made the proposition that the
roads concede the eight hour day and that all other mat
ters be left to arbitration This the men accepted put the
roads refused All his suggestions were refused o one
side or the other and last resort and to prevent over
wheming disaster oyertakng the country he has passed
the whole matter up congress If the law making oody
cannot find remedy then there is none. go
The question both sides are facing is what VII! puonc
opinion decide? Whatever that is both sides must finally
Weld to it. for neither hold out in the face OF It, Inc
railroads are trying to manufacture public opnoh out
that kind is of little value. 1t is class only and to oe
powerful enough to compel agreement 1T must be the
unsolicited opinion of the reached from undef
standing of the When hunger stares millions IN the
big cities in the face that opinion will matenaze rapidly
and then settlement will Whoever that oplnon Is
against will have hard row to hoe to get back INTO puoc
favor if it ever succeeds in doing. Each side should
consider this phase of the matter and be sure they are
right before going ahead Above all they should CONSIDER
that the business the prosperity and perhaps the ves OF
of hundred million peODle le0parQlZed by