South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-07
So Charley Stands Pat
Horace H. Herr Editor Indiana Forum Comments Murdoch
Attitude Toward South Bend Street Car Strike.

ed 10 increase wages if the public
service commission. or rather the
legislature. would grant an increase
in all rates TO all transportation
companies in the state. In the
meantime he pointed out that the
wage scale in South Bend-in-
creased two cents per hour after
the strike was called-was as high
as was paid by any street car sys-
tenn owned by his directors and
stockholders.
This argument was unanswerable
But the motormen and conductors
wondered still how they could pay
their rent, buy food and pay doctors
bills.
1t was all very confusing. Char
ley actually agreed to split fifty-fifty
with every cent he could add TO his
rates. But naturally enough, as an
old school business man, he wanted
10 get the cent before he split it.
Some one made a fool sugges-
ton. 1t must have been a fool sug-
gestion because Charley didn't ac-
cept il. This fool suggestion show
ed the impracticability Of the man
who made it. He started with the
obvious fact that public opinion was
not favorable 10 public utilities, es-
pecially transportation public util-
tiles He intimated that this ad-
verse public opinion was based upon
the experience the public had had
with such utilities. He suggested
that in view Of the increased cost
of everything there might be some
justice in the need for increased
passenger and freight rates At the
same time he commended that if this
justice was 10 be recognized, the
street car companies must recognize
the psychology of the situation The
public must first be convinced that
the street car companies want 10 be
fair. Then, doubtless or perhaps
some relief might be secured.
For this reason he suggested that
the South Bend company raise their
wage scale 10 meet the modest re-
quest Of the striking men Then
perhaps he said, the people of In
diana may be convinced that repent
ance. repentance Of public utility
companies is the order Of the day.
Then again. if convinced of this,
the public. which so often has been
MIXED without having any chance
at all at the teats, may render what
Charley calls justice 70 the street
car companies. They may sanction
a raise in rates.
AS I said before this is what that
impractical man suggested. But
Charley is not impractical Far
from it. He is not so foolishly and
| fatuOusly featherbrained as 70 give
before he gets. He gets his first.
So. he turned down the suggestion.
For this reason there are strike
breakers in South Bend. They get
good wages because their jobs are
hazardous and temporary. Very
few people are riding on the street
cars. Charley admits il is costing
his company thousand dollars pei
day.
The striking motormen and con
! ductors are out Of work. They cant
] =
I they ask for. / wondered last night
how one Of them whose baby had
! appendicitis would secure proper
medical and surgical aid ! am still
4 wondering
But what can Charley do? II thu
so men on the South Bend city dl.
vision received more pay than the
| men in Elkhart Fl Wayne. Nun.
| Gle. Anderson. Evansville and else
where, then wouldn't the men OF
these underpaid systems becom,
| dissatisfied And wouldn't that dis
turb business and dividends Fl
street car circles all over the state
OF Irse il would
60 Charley stands pat wonde
| il that kid was operated upon Ans
| by whom And II he will recover
Life is very complex Isn't IL?