Arizona republican., 1916-08-23
The President and the Strike

The President and the Strike
 The exigences of politics have driven the president into curious and unenviable position. They would have forced any weak man into the same position. Only a remarkably strong could have withstood them. The country is threatened with a great rail- way strike On side are 400 900 men, presumably all voters. counting their friends and sympathz- Against this potential voting strength there is principle toward which country steadily moving for many years. The president has advocated 1t and all public have advocated it a saving foroe-the principle of arbitration.
 For the settlement of the dispute which arose. the railway managers proposed a arbtra- ton of all points in controversy. They would leave it board of arbitration under the Newlands act to the interstate commerce commission The rail- roads had for desiring that the dispute should be settled by arbitration Tho cogent that it would be settled after such thorough investigation of relations between the railways and their employees that in award was given the latter 1t would carry with it at least tacit recommendation that the roads should be al- lowed recoup themselves additional expense of operation by advance of rates. If the roads should yield without a struggle they would be put the trouble of gaining hearing, perhaps long de- layed, of an application for permission to advance The roads naturally desired that the whole matter should be disposed of at time.
 Their employees rejected in its entirety the prin- ciple of arbitration and demanded unconditional surrender Into the deadlock thus created the presi dent stepped, sickle in hand into field of votes ripe the harvest At time did he raise his voice for the principle of arbitration After brief conference with the labor leaders he evolved plan settle necessarily the strike but temporize with it, until after the election. Before railway managers could give consideration to his plan the president told them that if they should reject it and A strike should follow respon sbility would with them.
 The presidents plan is that the railways shall yield at to the demand for an eight day, which with the further demand that the shall be allowed time and half for overtime is practically all in dispute It is the backbone of the controversy. The rest the president, told the agers might left arbitration; that s whatever either party would be willing yield to avoid strike might be arbitrated. When the managers spoke of the principle of arbitration, the president replied that he proposed abandonment of it. only a suspension. which had been made necessary by the refusal of the employees agree it. Yet the pres dent would hold the railway managers responsible for strike because they insisted upon standing for principle Moreover he told the managers that the demand for eight hour day just ought to be granted.
 We will agree with the president that the eight hour day ought be granted Eight hours is long enough Tor any man or woman to work Tn twenty four hours except in a of emergency and then there should be additional pay It is unnecessary point out the almost certain emergencies that would arise in the railway train service, calling for longer hours
 But If have the principle of arbitration 1t is not for us to for the president to say. that demand in industrial dispute is just, just that it should be submitted to arbitration. The president is competent to speak and is qualified by his position speak than any private citizen. for the off-hand settlement of disputes
 Now as to the responsibility for whatever may We believe that if great, paralyzing strike comes. the president himself will hs held partly responsible Notwithstanding the apparently yielding position of the railway employees, there was always the that they ahf the railway managers when brought face face with the appalling fact of such a strike as this would be, would make mutual concessions But with the president fully listed their side with his declaration that the railway managers would be held responsible for a strike. fortified and buttressed in their opposition arbitration and concession, they prepared to yield nothing
 We do not think that the presidents papable bid for the political support the railway employees will be accepted in view of his open and bitter hos tllity organized labor before he felt the need votes And if it should be accepted do not think the transaction would be a politically profitable for him. There many times 400,0 900 workingmen 1T the United States not concerned in sympathetic with the demands of the railway employees who would be disastrously affected by the strike and who wou be inclined to blame the railway employees for pre- cipitating it. blunderngly aided and abetted by tn president.
 Two Arizona Augures
 Some of democratic contemporaries wha they regard as a favorable augury in the circum