Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-15
A Blow at Union Labor?


Before the demands OF the represent
atives Of ten per cent. OF the railway
employees of tie country the govern
ment appears with helpless hands
hxnsing at its sides. Congress cringed
before this dictatorial political factor,
and now the Supreme Court is chal-
lenged and threatened II 1t dare exer-
else ,ts Judgment and that judgment is
contrary to the determination Of this
group Of men.
In an hour when the nation is facing
a great international crisis, when the
nations every thought and energy
should he devoted to war possibilities,
and 70 preparation for such eventual
tiles. by clearing UP every artery OF
commerce in readiness for shipment OF
men and munitions, bevy of labor
autocrats seize upon the country's ne
cessity to prom ote their own selfish
ends.
If tie railroads were a free agent
tina; could fix its own rates to meet the
proposed expenditure, it would be a
different matter. But the government
regulates railroad rates and cannot
regulate labor thereon.
The national government stands help
Less. because Congress feared to offend
branch Of organized labor teven
when that branch promises to starve
other branches) to the extent Of giving
the President power to take control Of
the railroads under martial law in a
status Of Threatened war"
Is It any wonder that today r:ii,iions
OF American citizens, are indignant in
the face of threatened hold-up thai
is already causing hardship, because
shipments of perishable goods are re-
fused? Is it any wonder that thous-
ands Of union men employed by the
railroads are infiamed by the arbitrary
dictation of few power-mad leaders
OF the highest paid labor in the world,
who choose to take the bread from the
mouths of their fellows?
We are not attempting to say that
the men of these brotherhoods do not
deserve all they ask of their employers,
if it can be acquired by way of the ma
chinery of government and justice pre-
pared BY ALL the people FOR ALL
the people. We would not presume to
say that the railroads are right or that
they have not so Unanswered as to
make their fight the peoples fight,
while under pressure from both sides.
subject to a labor demand for which
government regulation Of rates had not
provided.
Far men stand for justice to capital
on its legal rights as we'll as to labor in
it's rights
AS we understand the problem in the
present stage the President can do no
more than to appeal to the labor lead
ers and to the railway representatives
TO reach an agreement for the sake of
the country's interests, as a patriotic
"nty, as humane consideration, as a
recognition that public welfare is above
fractional interests.
NOR Gun we understand how labor it.
sell can expect to hold that which 10
most vital to 1t now and in all time to
come public approval and support, if
II holds the highest court in contempt
and assumes the same attitude toward
humanity that the German autocracr
assumes in its merciless "unrestrictad
submarine warfare"-anything to win
The people of this country already
are feeling the pinch of freight block.
AIDES, food shortage and high nr;ces
ana the government is Investigating"
the cause of these hardships. But tho
railway brotheIhoods autocracv 70.
fuses to await investigation: if as
sumed to be above Congress, it assumes
TO be above the Supreme Court ar
least the general public so understan ds
its arbitrary position.
Al such a time should not these
hish-handed leaders ask themselves
now such course is bound to he re-
ceived by the public; how its own
members ard their families n,ust 10
looked upon and suffer. and how mill
hons OF others directly connected ,vi.,,
ana dependent on some branch NJ ar
sanized labor, will accept the hard.
ships1
--AA