New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-01
The Railroad Strike Threat.

Without going into the details Of the
demands made by the unions OF railroad
employees or the counter demands OF the
railroads it can be said that the threat
of a resort to a general strike to settle
the differences involved is an afront to
reason and common sense. A strike
spreading over our entire railway system
would be a grave indictment Of American
capacity for self-government.
Railroading is not an ordinary industry.
1t is affected with public interest to
an exceptional degree. So far as inter-
state commerce is concerned it is regu-
lated by the Federal government. 50 Tar
as intrastate commerce is concerned 1t IS
regulated by the states. The railroads are
already in a large sense state and Federal
instrumentalitics. They arc bound up IN
dissolubly with the operations Of govern
mcnt.
To allow the companies and their en-
ploves to fight out wage disputes on
large scale after the manner in vogue IN
the case of private enterprises would be
feeble and cowardly attempt on the part
Of the government to dodge responsibilities
which it assumed when it took control OF
the railroads by asserting the right to
rco,,late their rates The railroads are
operated by the government, acting as a
trustee for the public, and the government
would be false to its trust If 1t allowed
the companies and their employees to en-
cage in an industrial war the first result
Of which would be to interrupt travel and
freight transportation.
Moreover, the Federal government has
provided by law an elaborate mediatory
system for the settlement of railroad wage
disputes. 1t has created boards of conciia-
ton and mediation, through whose good Of
fees such disputes are submitted to arbitra-
ton. In recent years arbitration has been
frequently resorted TO, the last important
case being that Of certain classes of en-
ployes on the Western railroads, decided
by a board on which the employees, the
railroads and the public were jointly rep
resented.
A popularity of the arbitration system
now in use has been its absolute one-sided-
ness-its invariable "heads-you-w in-tails
l-lose" handicap against the railroads
The employees have presented claims. The
railroads have sought to disprove those
claims, and the mixed board has naturally
brought in compromise verdict by which
the railroads have been the sole losers.
The employees had nothing to lose, what
ever happened. The public also had moth
ing to lose, because the Interstate Com
merce Commission always refused to con-
slider in regulating railroad charges the
added expense imposed on railroad opera
ton by these arbitration verdicts.
1t is obvious that with the whole rail-
road system under public control any ad-
justments Of wages and costs Of operation
due TO labor disputes should be com
promise whose burdens are shared among
all three interests concerned. One party
must not always be expected to pay while
the other two 20 scot free. There could be
no railroad disputes serious enough TO
threaten strikes if this principle Of fair
dealing were freely recognized.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
is supposed 10 maintain a proper equilib-
iium in traffic charges. That equilibrium
Is disturbed whenever a wage award al
fecting a large number Of employees is
handed down by mediatory board. 1t
should be restored automatically by pro
vision in the award that the increase is TO
take effect only when it is approved by
the Interstate Commerce Commission and
when the commission provides, through an
increase in freight rates or otherwise, the
amount Of railroad revenue needed TO
cover tho added operating charges.
The government should have the first
say in all railroad strike settlements, and
also the last say. II it is frankly acknowl-
edged that the public has the biggest stake
in these settlements and must foot the
bills for them, pressure for fairness and
reasonableness would be created which
would make absurd all talk Of an appeal
for justice 10 strikes and other crude and
wasteful remedial methods.
There can be no excuse for general
railroad strike. Let the railroad en-.
ployes the railroads and the government
get together and discuss the demands of
! the men and the counter demands Of the
manager. Let 10 also be understood that
the award, whatever it is, is to be made
effective by bottom on the part Of the In
terstate Commerce Commission which will