New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-31
Worse than Nothing

anti-strike legislation to the extent OF CIV
inc his sanction to the passage of a mere
make-believe anti-strike bill. Congressman
who are afraid to call their souls their
own if they see even in the distance the
shadow of an agent Of the four brother
hoods are willing to amend the present
Federal mediation law in some details
But they are violently opposed to putting
any teeth into that law, TO doing anything
which will make strikes unlawful until
n public investigation of the differences
between the railroads and their employees
has been instituted and completed.
The public is not protected under the
present Cancellation law against nstion-
wide suspension of railroad traffic II
would not be protected under any amend
ment 10 the present law which failed 70
,,ro,,ide for a suspension of the right TO
strike. A compromise which did not limit
the right to strike would be worthless 1or
public purposes. 1t would be mere piece
of political window dressing.
President Wilson has been stralghuor-
ward and uneouivocal in his demand for
protection against the perils OF nation
wide strikes. When he recommended TO
Congress last summer the passage OF an
act giving the railroad employees ten hours
nav for eight hours work he also recon-
roended. as a counter-balance in the IN
terest of the public, the passage Of another
act putting limitations on the right 10
strike. When Congress needed the first
recommendation and paid no attention 10
the second he promised the country that
thu balance would be redressed at the next
session. So did Mr.. Adamson, the author
Of the Adamson law. So did many other
Democratic leaders in Congress.
These assurances, so far as Mr. Wilson
was concerned, were given in good faith.
He renewed them in his annual message
last December, although by that time most
of the Democratic leaders in Congress had
catalogued their promises of antl-strike
legislation as promises which had served
their purpose and were no longer meant
to be kept. 1t is to the Presidents credit
that he sharply reminded Congress Of its
duty and that he thus defended, in the
face of its apathy, the principle under
living railroad strike restriction:
"To pass law which forbade or pre-
vented the individual workman to leave
his work before receiving the approval
of society would be to adopt new prin-
ciple into our jurisprudence.
But the proposal that the operation OF
the railways of the country shall not be
stopped or interrupted by the concerted
action of organized bodies of men until
public investigation shall have been
instituted which shall make the whole
question at issue plain for the judg-
ment of the opinion of the nation
is not to propose any such principle. II
is based upon the very different prin-
chile that the concerted action of pow
erful bodies Of men shall not be per-
mitted to stop the industrial processes
of the nation, at any rate before the ma
ton shall have had an opportunity to
acouaint itself with the merits of the
case as between employee and employer
time TO form its opinion upon an i'm
martial statement of the merits and op-
nortunity to consider all practicable
means of Cancellation or arbitration.
can see nothing in that proposition but
the Unsuitable safeguarding by society
of the necessary processes OF its very
life"
The principle thus stated is of vast i'm
uortance 10 future national development
The nation must become master of its In
strumentalities. II must not remain in a
position TO be victimized by artifcialiy
aggrandized, self-seeking elements within
the national organization. There can be
no compromise on this point
We believe that it would be far better
10 pass no railroad Cancellation legislation
whatever at this session than TO pass a
bill lodging the issue Of strike restriction
and thus by inference admitting the un-
willingness of Congress TO do anything
which will displease or weaken the rail-
road brotberhoods.
The Tribune said last summer that If
Congress was too cowardly to pass anti
strike legislation under the immediate
threat Of a great railroad strike it would
be too cowardly TO pass it at the short
session, after the threat of the strike had
passed. There is apparently no hope Of
relief in this House or Senate. But 1t
would be vastly better for US 10 live on
under the terror Of industrial civil war