The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-17
SATURDAY MORNING. MARCH II, 1917.
TROUBLES OF OUR OWN.

These be indeed turbulent times. There is not
recorded any period in history when the world was
passing through great a transition as it Is at
present. The labor pains accompanying this
change are of such magnitude that it is hard to
foretell just what condition everything will be in
when the new birth has been accomplished.
The situation across the waters is of course. the
principal event, but it that ere long we our
selves shall be thrown from the bank into the
swiftly moving tide which is setting-no one can
tell whittier Russia overthrowing its bureau
cratic government and substituting one responsive
to the people, What an eyeopener to the believers
in the divine right OF kings and what prognost-
cation of the eventful happenings in that and other
countries when the people realize that they are the
government and that consent of the governed takes
precedence over blue blood.
1t would seem that right at present we have our
hands fully occupied without a thrown into the
balance for good measure. The action of the rail-
road brotherhoods really unexpected at this
time. We do not believe that in case Of war the
government would experience any difficulty with
the operation of the railroads. We have as much
confidence in the loyalty and patriotism of the rail-
way men have in any class of people. Should
the declaration of war come, we believe that the
employees would resume their duties without a sec
ond's hesitation or without attempt to extort a
promise of future concessions.
Many writers throughout the country char
acterizing the action of the railway brotherhoods
as disloyalty and folly. We cannot see just why
they are deserving of such censure. Should war
be declared and the still insist on hampering
the operations the railroads, believe that then
would be plenty of time to extend such criticism
and that it would certainly be merted. Such a
condition does not now exist however and it is not
certain that this country will be forced into state
of actual warfare.
1t seems to the man who derives his information
regarding the situation from the opinions of th'
various writer's throughout the country and from
the reports that the brotherhoods should have
allowed the supreme court to hand down a decision
before taking any action. Opposed to this, how
ever is the statement by the national conferenc
committee of the railroads. The chairman o
this board makes proposition which would refe
the eight-hour day and its application to tn
Cocktails commission regardless Of whether tn
supreme court holds the Adamson act constitu
tional unconstitutional.
The Muscular of the opinion that Pres
dent Wilson wrong in forcing class legislatio
through congress and stated that in its opinion tn
was only stop gap legislation, which it hi
proved 10 be.
A strike at this time is long step toward GOV
eminent ownership of railroads. If the efforts
the special arbitrati ton committee prove ineffect
and the railroads unable to move suffice
trains to supply the big eastern cities with foe
the government will undoubtedly be forced to ia
the roads and operate them until such time
least as an agreement can be reached between t
employees and the employers. After this has be
done once it will undoubtedly pave the way
government ownership which, with all it's vast
fulness and red tape, would seem preferable to ps
hitting one class of labor to starve or at lie;
seriously inconvenience the entire country.