Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-20
NO STRIKE THIS THE.

When 1t was announced on 0atuF-
day that the great railroad strike had
been postponed 4s hours in order to
allow time for further negotiations. II
was assumed quite generally that there
would be no strike. The fact that
there was to be further discussion
was accepted that some adjustment
short Of strike was possible. ana was
in sight.
The surrender was brought about
BY the surrender Of the railway man
ayers on the main point at issue. The
mon are to receive the IS per cont in
crease in wages demanded.
AS this is tho main feature Of the
Adamson law, it becomes immaterial
whether or not that law 10 decided,
or what the decision may be, so far as
its application to the present situation
is concerned.
The railroads grant what the Adam
son law attempted to force from them,
and which they would hAye continued
to refuse had the law been declared
invalid. Tho men obtained what they
would have obtained under that law,
had 1t been sustained, and what they
would have attempted to force from
the roads had tho decision been other
wise.
The Adamson law, as valid lsgisla-
ton. would have been acceptable to
tho mon, and would have been ac-
cepted perforce by tho companies. Had
It been declared imperative the rail-
roads would not have been bound by
II, but an adverse decision would not
have restrained the men from striking
or adopting any other means to en-
force their demands.
The country has. twice within about
six months, emegred from situation
which in each case threatened it with
disaster Of unmeasureable extent. In
the first instance the menace was that
Of inconvenience, loss and suffering.
In the second case there was added
to these the PERIL Of being rendered
helpless in the face Of war. In each
case the real issue has been evaded.
In the first case the country was
alarmed. and congress, responding to
that feeling of alarm, went into a pan
ic and, feeling itself powerless in re-
spect to one Of the parties to the con-
troversy without study and without
Investigation Of the facts, ordered the
other party to yield. In the second
instance this party has yielded with
hA
matter rests.
The wage advance is important to
those who are to receive 1t, and Of
some importance to the general pub
lie which is to pay it. We need be
under no illusion as to tho people who
are to pay this increase. It will not
be subtracted from railway dividends
In some cases that. or part Of It.
may be the immediate effect. But
railway dividends have been Whitfield
down to q pretty fine point, and addi-
tional charges will inevitably be shift
ed to the public, in added rates. in d.
minished service, or in some other
form.
But these matters Of increased
compensation to the men and added
charges to the public are Insignificant
in comparison with the greater issue,
which Is worthier or not, there exists
In this nation power which. when the
material means are available in abun-
dance, can insure the operation Of
these activities which are essential to
=, ~ $ha In %N
and prosperity Of the people in time
Of peace, and to their security in time
Of war. If there is no such power. and
If the activities Of the nation may be
suspended at any moment dt the will
Of either dissatisfied employees or stub
born employers, then something very
important has been omitted from our
system Of government.
For some time, in all probability.
we will hear nothing more Of train
mems strike. But the great mass Of
railway employees, the section men,
the carpenters and other groups, have
not been heard from. The logic Of
the situation calls for strike by these
employees. The success Of the broth
erhoods points to the strike as an Of
fective method to use, and II their
demands were to be formulated now.
when our ships are being sunk by q
foreign power. and steps are being ta-
ken for defense. those demands would
certainly be heard attentively. II not
cordially and respectfully.
The one important thing that has
been settled, not by the agreement be-
tween the employers and employees.
but by the supreme court decision
which followed that agreement within
q few hours, 10 that congress has the
right to enforce wage schedules
against the railroads This is import
ant, but It leaves untouched the right
Of congress to enforce those schedules
as against employees.
MORE AMERICAN SHIPS AND
SAILORS.
Three more American ships. man
ned by American seamen, have been