Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-14

the country. in so far as tho general public
is concerned ground between the upper
milestone OF capital and the neither one OF
organized labor, is being forced to revert to
Its former unhappy condition and is damned
by both. Struggle and sQuirm for escape
or relief as it may, it is the public, not the
forces of capital or those OF organized labor,
that is suffering as result of the seemingly
endless conflict between the two. And who
cares except the unfortunate public itself?
Truth of these observations soon may be
brought home sharply TO the Richmond pub
lie. 1t will be if the Virginia Railway and
Power Company and it's employees do not
reach All agreement whereby the STRIKE
already voted by the latter, may be averted
Leaving out all questions of right or wrong,
adequate or inadequate wages, it is tho pub
lie that will suffer if the strike is permitted
TO eventuate. 1t is the public that will have
to walk to and from its work, or commander
any sort of vehicle that may be found avail
able. 1t is the public that will be incon-
venienced and made to pay the penalty. And
this is the same public on which the street
car company depends for its financial sup
port, without which neither it nor its en-
ployees could survive for twenty four hours.
This is the public which owns the franchises
on which the company operates its lines
through the public streets, and through the
use Of which it is enabled to provide en-
Dloyment for its thousands of men, This
10 tuo puDlC WHICH DOtn corporation ana
organized labor arc prepared to brush aside
lightly and with their own selfish interests
In view. say with the old Commodore Of a
past generation, Let it be damned"
But perhaps the public itself will have
to say before 1t permits itself to
be thus carelessly disposed OF. Perhaps it
will assert itself in a manner unmistakable
10 the two elements which now threaten it.
1t has that power, even il not working under
union rules COrOOraton mo
may be goaded into action for the safeguard
ing of its own interests.
The public wants the street car company
to have fair treatment; it is equally de-
Sirous that its employees be able to earn
a decent wage, but it believes both ends can
DO accom- plished without resort to a labor
disturbance that would upset the whole city.
The men demand more money The COM
pany admits that they should have it, but it
protests its inability to grant further in
creases until the city empowers it to charge
higher fares. There they are deadlocked,
and the club of failure Of its transportation
system is held high over the municipal head
with the threat, unvoiced, it is true but
Just as real as if it were shouted from every
street corner that the city, which is the pub
lie, must come across with higher fares or
accept the consequences.
IN the meantime, no steps have been taken
by the company to demonstrate the impera-
tive necessity OF higher fares There is moth
ing beyond its word as TO its needs It's
books have not been opened to the city, no
valuation OF its property has been under
taken, there has been no marking off the
books of costly investments of past years for
which the public now is paying without hav-
ing derived benefit therefrom. In brief, there
is nothing but the refusal Of the company
to increase wages without increased fares
on one hand and the peremptory demand
OF It's employees on the other
1t is situation that should be met fully,
and the issue determined now 1t can be
II both company and labor will hearken unto
reason. The public demands that they do so
hearken Let the company state its case,
with supporting proof and with books wide
open to the Council, and if it can show that
on an honest investment it must have higher
lares to maintain itself, they will be granted
II the company is willing to do this, then
the employees should, and undoubtedly will,
be content to await the determination. They
are not so far apart that calm and sober
counsei and proper regard for the rights
of the public on which they depend can
not bring them together in amity.
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