Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-09-02
THE PEOPLE RULE.
(From Monitor, Boston. }


A cardinal point for consideration
in connection with the controversy
| between the railroad managers and
the railroad trainmen of the United
States, and one that must be espec-
tally emphasized in view OF the ap-
! palling contingency threatening to
arise therefrom, is that the public
shall not permit itself to be used as
mere convenience by either party,
or by both. There is something in
volved that is OF vastly greater con-
sequence than a decision as to
whether the companies or the em-
ployees shall have their way. The
champions and advocates of each
side should be disabused, and with
out delay, of the erroneous belief
that there can be at stake any in
terest paramount to that of the
public welfare. 1t was, of course,
long the practice in disputes between
capital and labor for the represen-
tatives and spokesmen on both sides
to disregard the principal factor in
the equation, but the public has been
learning from experience in recent
years, and learning very thoroughly,
that positive assertion of Its dignity
and its authority, in circumstances
such as those at present confronting
it, is essential to the peace and pros
perity of the country
While the Importance Of the rail-
road corporations and of the railroad
brotherhoods is recognized as fully
as ever, and while there is no evil
dence Of a disposition to deny them
justice in any particular, the public
has attained to a clearer sense Of
their true relationship to the body
economic and the body polite The
new and better understanding of this
relationship is that the railroads and
the railroad unions are servants of
the public, not masters; subjects, not
dictators; that they are amenable to
public regulation and restraint, and
that, in the last analysis, they must
do the public's bidding.
The people of the United States do
not want the threatened strike to
take place. They are opposed to this
method of arbitration. If the ques-
ton were referred to them Of sup
porting a strike they would be found
Overwhelmingly in opposition to it,
The willingness and the ability of
the people to assert and to WELD the
power they possess was never put to
a greater test than it is at this mo-
ment. Far beyond anything the
railroad managers may say or do, far
beyond anything the railroad train
men may say or do, far beyond any
thing the President or Congress may
say or do at this juncture, will be
heard and felt the voice and in
fiuence Of the people, if they shall
rule, as is their right and their duty
to rule
There can be no nationwide strike
II the people interdict 1t. There
must be a peaceable settlement OF
the dispute If the people demand 1t.
And there can be no real government
OF and by and for the people If the
people shall submit supinely to
condition created in defiance OF their
protests and their interests 1t does
not lie with capital or with labor to
say that the United States shall be
industrial strife. 1t does not lie with
the railroad managers or with the
union delegates to declare that the
nation shall be disturbed because
they cannot agree. 1t does not lie
with any body OF people, whether
their resource be money or muscle.
to determine whether order or riot
shall prevail throughout the land
Let the people speak, and speak in
positive terms, and they will be
heard and obeyed. They rule, or the
United States of America is not a
democracy.