The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-07-20
SHOULD ARBITRNTE.

Ordinarily the public is not con-
cerned with controversies between
the railroads and their employees, but
when controversy reaches a state
where general strike and interup-
tion OF the service is threatened then
1.-THE general public is bound to take
notice.
Employees in train and engine ser
vice on the railroads of the United
States have demanded an increaseNin
wages approXimating $100,000,00O a
year, although they are now the
highest paid class OF labor in the
world. The railroad managers have
refused to arbitrate and are taking
strike vote.
1t may as we'll be understood at
the start that the public is not go
ing to sit idly by and fail to invoke
| it's sovereign power. The railroads
not only are public servants but as
such have become a public necessity.
To suspend operation or to seriously
impair the service would entail both
great loss and great hardship. Such
situation is at once intolerable and
the public will not suffer it to exist
The public will expect the trains
to be run and business transacted in
the usual orderly manner Settle
ment of the differences between the
railroads and their employees must be
effected without interruption of the
service. If the present employees
strike and refuse to operate the
trains, then it is up to the manage
ment to fill their places with other
men. The trains must be operated
The public will stand firmly on its
rights in this respect.
The public will be all the more de-
termined by reason of the refusal of
the employees to arbitrate. For the
principal of arbitration has been re-
cognized and crystalized into law by
all civilized nations and peoples.
If the demands of the employees
are just they have nothing to fear
from arbitration If the demands
are unjust they should be acceded to-
In any event the American people are
committed to the principles of ar
bitration and they will stand on their
SOVEREIGN right to exact obedience on
the part of anyone. Uuder no cir
cumstance or condition will the peo-
pie suffer hardship or inconvenience
resulting alone from defiance OF
this principle by either the employer
or emplOye.
In commenting on this proposed
nation wide strike, the National Bank
of New York says: THE consequen-
ces of a tie-up Of the railways would
be so disastrous that the public
scarcely credits the possibility.
THE railroads have proposed that
the entire controversy be submitted
to the Interstate Commission for ad
Indication but offered to agree to
arbitration under the Newlands act.
This offer makes strong appeal
to the public. The members Of the
Interstate Commission are the best
informed men upon the railway situa-
tion in the country. They know
whether it is practicable to reduce
| the train runs to eight hours without
reorganizing the whole service, anl
greatly increasing the costs of opera
ton. They know how the wages of
the trainmen compare with the wages
of other railway employees, and with
wages in other occupations. They
companies to pay higher wages and
whether or not it can be done without
increasing rates. They can consid-
er the entire subject of railway ia
come and disbursements together and
if they conclude that wages should be
higher, they would have, what no.
body else would have the power to
adjust rates to meet the new require
ments. 1t cannot be said that the
Commission is either without ade-
quate information or the judicial
qualifications to deal with the case.
The more the proposal is considered
the more clearly it will appear to be
the best possible disposition of the
matter.
ut is not reasonable on the part
of the trainmen to demand that their
claims for more pay shall be allowed
under duress, because they have pow
er to tie up the transportation sys-
tens. The day has gone by for eth
er the managers or employees to at
tempt to settle such an issue by
force, without regard for the vast
public involved"
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