Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-02

| If the decision in the Adamson az
| case makes it clear that congress. thr:
| a government commission, can assume
| the regulation, in the public interest
| of all these problems of railroad labor
there will be a guarantee that they VII
be determined in the light of reason
and not in the darkness OF industrial
| conflict
But the immediate problem con-
fronting the nation is what provision
must he made for a decision adverse
to the Adamson act, and 10 the power
OF congress TO regulate wages.
The railroad brotherhoods have de-
termined upon their course Of action
If the law is found invalid. Their lead
ers stated in Chicago few days agF
tina, 1T may be necessary on some
roads or groups of roads to use, the
protective feature of the organization.
The protective feature means the
strike 1t is no longer a secret tina;
the heads of the organizations nave
now in their hands full power to tie w
the commerce of the country road by
road or territory by territory, or on
all the roads simultaneously, IL the su-
preme court finds the Adamson act
unconstitutional
Six months ago, when the strike or
der had been issued to call out the men
on 4 Monday morning at Z o'clock, the
president went to congress with plea
for immediate action to prevent tie
disaster He told congress that ne
yielded 10 no man in firm adherence,
alike of conviction and of purpose, 10
the principle of arbitration in indus
trial disputes: but matters had come to
a sudden crisis in this. particular dis
pute, and the country bad been caught
unproyided with-any practicable means
of enforcing that conviction in prac-
tice." These were the presidents OWE
words. A few days previous he hac
telegraphed a citizen who protested
against abandoning arbitration tina
there was mo means in existence oS
which arbitration could be secured
II the Adamson act is found uncon :
stitutional, and the brother hoods
threaten strikes TO enforce their orig
ina! demands. the country will face
the same situation that ii did the last
week in August.
ing congress earnestly urged the ne
cessity of legislation TO meet such q
situation At the opening OF this ses'
sion of congress he devoted his entire
address to this subject, and bills have
been introduced in both houses pro-
viding for government investigation oi
railroad wage disputes pending whicf
there shall be no resort 10 industrial
warfare at the expense OF the PUBIC
But the legislation proposed BY ths
president has met with the determined
opposition. not only of the brother
| hoods, but of the whole force of organ
| lied labor. The head of the American
Federation Of Labor told the members
Of the house committee on interstate
commerce a few days ago that he FOL
| one would refuse to obey such law
| if it were enacted.
This is problem that must &C
! solved. and in it's solution we mus
| keep clearly in mind the rights and
duties of all the parties at interest
! The problem, ii seems to me. is ou'
another phase of the centuries-oie
| conflict between private rights ant
public duties.
! The mandate of the peoDle: thru acts
| Of congress and decisions Of the courts
is that the railroads must be continu-
ously operated in the public interest
| that the public interest Is greater thar
that of the individuals who own these
properties, or of the individuals wht
| earn their livelihood in the operation
| Of them.
! When the private rights of the rail-
roads have come into conflict with
| their public duties, the puplic, thru tn
courts, has declared that public dutie:
| are greater than private rights. To tn
| railroads the public says: You mus
operate continuously, under such regu
| lations as we provide, and under sucl
! tariffs as we approve"
The employees have q legal right t
4 leave their posts on every division d
/ railroad in this country. Is not Thu
unrestricted right Of the railroad EN-
| ployes to quit work in body a menac'
! to the public welfare? Does not thu
| individual who chooses to earn h1
livelihood in the public service 0
transportation assume duty to hell
keep open these vital arteries of com
merce, duty greater than the privat
/! right to strike?
1 a member Of the interstate com
merce commission Judge Clements, re
Gently expressed tue opinion that raH
road employees are affected with pub
lie interest that they can no more Is
4 more than can the carriers and b
suggested that there should be legal
s::S.ssaa;;;SEis:i :.:a::sa.Ie:. .:,o:: .acs
employees not to interrupt the seryic
by strike until the justice of their de
Inands had been determined by som
public tribunal.
Such definition by law Of the pub
lie duties OF railroad employees mus
have been in the mind of the presiden
when ne told gathering of bushes
men recently that. the business Q
government is TO see that no other or
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