New-York tribune., 1918-07-02

lcge for which they arc preparing to
strike, that Of Joining the unions.
The President took two important
steps to-day whose political effect is
bound to be vast.
One was when he determined to seize
the telephone and telegraph companies
unless the Western Union Company
chooses to obey the order of the INIT
Walsh Labor Board, and the other
when he set his face against increasing
the hours of labor, no matter how good
the reasons may be for tho increase
This was shown in his veto of tho Bor
land eight-hour amendment. Both of
these acts are Of piece with his whole
attitude toward labor in this war. but
they arc more striking perhaps than
anything else that he has done to
satisfy what he regards as the reason
able aspirations Of labor during the
war and to insure its loyalty.
The President may not be thinking
of political effects; he may be think
ing only Of winning the war, which
requires that there shall be no labor
disturbances. but the consequences will
be many Democratic votes in the cleo
ton and the creation Of a Democratic
party soldly based upon the support Of
labor.
Have Confidence in Taft
And cx-President Taft certiiies to
dent Wilson takes the action which
wins labor's gratitude. That is one
way of looking ct it. And that way
makes tho occupant Of the White
House the master politician OF the age.
To foreclosc the criticism of your op-
ponents is superpoltics.
To look at it in another way, c&-
President Taft, man in whom the
entire country. especially Its business
interests, has entire confidence passes
upon all labor questions. 1t is either
good politics, good patriotism or both.
as you look at it. And men here look
at it both ways.
But at least there is now labor
policy and an organization for carrying
it into effect Industrial disputes go
before the Taft Walsh board, and the
Administration backs the rulings OF
that board with all its power to com
mandcer the property of those who
dare to disobcy.
New comb Carlton, president of tho
Western Union Telegraph Company,
Yesterday refused to comment on
President Wilson'S recommendation
that the government assume control OF
the Telegraph and telephone lines.
He issued the following statement,
however, regarding his stand on the
strike order:
"The concrete situation is this: The
Western Union Telegraph Company
has so far not declined to follow the
instruction of the National War Labor
that board with which we are at vari-
ance.
can order has been issued to Western
Union employees to strike July 8. There
will be no response to this order for
the reason that our employees cannot
be misleG at such a time as this and
because trey are not members OF the
union. it is stated that under the di
rection OF the Order of Railway Teleg
raphers the government mploy,e,s
handling commercial messages at rail
way stations will decline to handle
such messages The Western Union
has no differences with the Order Of
Railway Telegraphers; they have
worked freely for years in our forces
and with our employees. The contracts
for handling commercial messages at
railway offices are now with the United
States government and we have no
doubt that they will be carried out.
at would therefore appear that the
union without membership in our force $
proposes to declare a strike in order
that government employees handling
commercial messages may sympathetic
cally strike. The situation has no inn
portance save in it's novelty. The prime
object which the union seeks to ac-
complish is the defeat of the plan of
organization which is now being car
lied forward by Western Union en-
ployes, creating their own association
with unrestricted rights as to collec-
tive bargaining, working conditions
compensation. ETC."
Percy Thomas. Eastern representa-
tive OF the Commercial Telegraphers
Union of America, said there would be
no strike in the event the government
took over the Western Union lines
The Presidents plan, he said, assures
q victory to the telegraphers