The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-11
Hughes Faces a Heavy
Handicap In Some of the
Support He Is Getting

81 The street railway workers in New York city
I have struck again Why wouldn't they'
After last weeks surrender in Washington
what else to be expected?
The only strange thing in the situation is
that the employers stood out long enough for
strike TO be inaugurated. but possibly they
were relying their immunity from federal
Is interference.
The country il already fnding out the conse-
Quences OF the surrender in Washington. II can
look for those consequences 10 continue and to
Increase In gravity.
The unions are in the saddle What is TO pre-
vent the trainmen themselves from repeating
1T any moment their Successful action OF this
summer
How long will II be before the effect OF their
higher wages viii enhance their own cost of
living and they will demand a fresh raise in
wages to meet it. with fresh threats to strike
4 the demand is not granted
The foregoing is an editorial clipped
from the Free Press.
The Free Press is among the few news
papers left in the country that can be
classed as partisan.
The Free Press is partisan and, just
1t this time, desperately so.
It's own desperation is the desperation
Of its party over what looks like certain
defeat for Charles E. Hughes in Novem-
Der.
The party is grabbing at straws.
The Free Press has picked out Will
sons plan of settlement Of the threaten
"a railroad strike for its straw.
II holds up the strike of street railway
workers in New York as result of that
plan of settlement.
The Free Press knows it is unfair, not
only toward President Wilson but toward
its readers, in this attempt TO connect
the New York strike and the strike that
would have meant famine for the coun-
try If President Wilson had not been
brave enough to act when he did, AS
he did
The eight-hour law is not now and
never has been an issue in the troubles,
recent or present, between the New
York traction companies and their en-
ployes.
What the employees demand is merely
recognition of their union.
That, in itself, constitutes grievous
and unforgivable offense in the opinion
Of capitalistic newspaper, but it so hap
pens that, grievous and unforgivable as
the offense may be in that opinion, it
has nothing whatever to do, IN ANY
FEATURE, with ANY FEATURE of
the strike that Wilson averted FOR THE
PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AND
THE INDUSTRIES OF THE COUN-
TRY, INCLUDING THE RAILROADS
THEMSELVES.
This 10 the second time the surface
y{<nction workers in New York have been
forced by the companies to strike.
Upon the first occasion, the strike was
settled by willingness on the part of
the workers to compromise, out of con-
sideration for the public or the innocent
h third party.
The men having been willing to make
these concessions, the traction com
panies attempted to stretch the agree
ment to two years at which the mer
rebelled, and justly so.
The companies tried to put over Z
master and servant contract and there
was too much manhood on the part oi
the men who struck TO submit 10 it.
Wilson has turned the country ovel
10 labor unions, to hear the Free Press
tell il.
Horrorsi
The country has been turned over t
the labor unions instead Of to capital.
THE country is already finding GU