The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-31

of congress to prevent the nation
wide railroad strike the threat d
which has been hanging over the
country for many months.
President Wilson has practically &C
knowledged that he has gone as far
with men and managers as is possible
for him to go. and he appeals to con.
gress to devise some legislation that
will either prevent the strike, or If ii
is begun before action can be taken,
to make some move that will put
an end to 1t.
Announcement that the members of
the four great brotherhoods of rail-
way trainmen will be called out next
Monday morning, brings the whole
matter to crisis.
On the part of the men the controv-
ersy is over the question of hours.
At the present time while ten hours
are generally considered day, men
in certain lines of transportation SER
vice are required to work much long
er, although limited by statute in
many states to a consecutive sixteen
hours.
The demand is that eight hours be
considered day and that they re-
ceive time and a half pay for over
time. Together with this is rather
complicated demand as to miles to be
considered as days run, or a days
work, which the layman has difficult
ty in understanding. Simplified, how
ever, under pressure from the presi-
dent the demand now is for an eight
hour day with the other matters to
be held in allegiance for investigation
and adjustment.
On the side of the managers of the
railroads, the answer to this demand
is that to grant it would bankrupt the
railroads of the country; that the
demand is really one for increase in
wages, which is matter for arbitra-
ton.
The men refuse to arbitrate this de-
mand, and thus the issue is made up,
an issue which neither the men and
managers, nor the board of concil-
iation and mediation, nor the presi-
dent has been able to reconcile.
This brings the country face to face
with one of the most serious situa-
lions it has had to meet within the
past sixty years. A general strike
on the railroads of this country, even
for twenty-four hours, would be dis
aster comparable only to war.
The question now is, is there any
protection for the country itself that
can be set up and enforced by con-
gress, the last resort?
While the men, estimated to num-
Der four hundred thousand are the
principles on one side, and the rail-
roads on the other, the question is,
after all, triangle in which the pub
lie is also represented AS a matter
Of fact, the interests of the public are
to the interests of the prin-
,ipal contestants. One hundred mil
ions Of people cannot sit idly by and
lee the disaster that general strike
would bring to all, If there is any
,ower in the government to prevent
t..
That the general welfare clause of |
he constitution grants the power of !
elf protection to the people cannot /
veil be doubted. Congress can with
rm hand, take hold of the situation
nd prevent the disaster, and there |
; not the slightest doubt that it will :,
o so, in the face of the emergency. |
There is probably great big sur
rise in store for both strikers and
managers, if the country is compelled
D handle the situation. Government
al control of the railroads has not
cen popular thought in this coun-
~, but if the government is COM
elled to seize the roads, now, in or I
er to prevent irreparable damage !
nd disaster to the people of the
Thole country, managers and men !,
lay find when they emerge from the
Vreck they have caused, that the
United States government has firm
ontrol of all railroads, both a sto
Management and operation, and that
ours, service, wages. rates and man I
will be controlled by officials
all the pople and not by the broth
hoods or the executives of the roads. i
Miami Herald.