The diamond drill., 1917-11-03

MORE TRAINMEN TROUBLES.

"A little over one year dbO lhc hoi"
men OF the nation made demand up
on the railroads for an eight-hour
day with the same pay as was then al
lowed for ten hours. There was a 10.
OF agitation throughout the nation as
the trainmen and railroads Joined is
sue and a strike was imminent. Pres
ident Wilson and his supporters were
Just then busy getting reelected on
the platform OF "he kept us out OF
war" and the democratic politicians
eagerly seized upon the railway labor
demands for political capital. So. a
law was hastily put through congress
which postponed the evil day until af-
ter election.
Well, the evil day seems to be near
at hand for railroad labor is again
agitating and II is quite probable that
out OF this agitation will come a de-
mand for some increase in pay. 1t Is
coming at time when this nation can
in AFFORD to have the question brought
up. Last year this question could
have been fought out and adjusted
for all time with no one hurt except
ing possible the democratic party that
was supporting the president.
Postponing doesn't settle economic
questions. Political tinkering with
questions Of the kind simply compli-
Gates and gives room for unfairness
one way or the other. No one, out
side OF the railroads, railroad employ
es and those who are paid to study
the question knows what Is right ana
what is wrong in these matters. The
trainmen may be justly entitled TO
raise in wages or they may not. The
railroads may be able to grant the In
crease or they may not The only way
TO do Justice to all concerned is to
meet the question fairly; to let the
men who are informed upon these mat
tere decide what is fair TO both part
les and to settle, II possible, once for
all time upon a policy that will auto
matically take care of contentious be-
tween the railroads and their employ
es. We have an Interstate Commerce
Commission that could and would de-
termine these things, II the politicians
would keep their hands off.
~ - ~
THESE NEW TANGLED DRIVES"
The entrance into the war by this
nation has resulted in all kinds OF
drives" Just now it's food conser-
walton drive" next it will be some
other kind of a drive" Anything, just
so long as it's drive"
OF course a drive" calls for a
driver" and so we have all kinds of
drivers holding the whip, cracking 1t
over our ears when we let up in the
collar It's great time for the
drive, and the driver, sort of a
holiday parade with flags flying and
bands playing. Ged ap, there.
One cannot but wonder occasion
ally, If all of this driving" is worth
the effort. For example. II instead OF
trying to hurrah the other fellow into
depriving himself of some enjoyment
ii wouldn't bring more in the end II
an effort should be made to start by
practical, well developed instruction
i'm the conservation Of all kinds OF
energy-even driving energy for we
will miss our guess very much If, be
fore this war Is over, some OF the
driven doesn't have to turn driver and
use CAD instead of a whip 10 spur
on many OF the present day ardent
drivers. for we've got a long way -
go yet, If signs don't fail The house
wife who methodically signed pledge
card during the week and then pro-
ceeded to forget all about IL isn't af-
fected very much by the drive What
most persons need is a halter and a
hitching post, rather than a pair Of
reins. These drives" have their vir-
tue in stirring up enthusiasm, but its
been our experience that enthusiasm
needs to be controlled and directed
as well as aroused.
p
The FIRST American soldier has been
wounded in the trenches the first
German prisoner has been captured
The ice has been broken all around
What the closing will be Is shrouded
in deep mystery, but Judging from
the fact that the Germans and Aus
trians 80 easily forced retreat In
Italy last week there are many chap
ters yet TO be written In blood and
the happy vein noted in the reports
OF the first wounding and capture will