The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-27
President Wilson's Return to Eco
nOmic Common Sense and
Proper Omcial Duty.

Proper Omcial Duty.
A situation perhaps about as diff
cult as any that has ever confronted
an American Executive in a matter Of
domestic policy is handled by Presi-
dent WILSON in his two letters, one
to his fellow citizens in general and
one to the railroad shopmen, with
force, tact and courage. His state
ments present the fundamental truth
Of the case, in the interest of all and
they present that fundamental truth
with a cogency and clearness which
should be convincing to any mind not
clouded or inflamed.
The country ought to be delighted
with this sign Of the reenlistment of
Mr.. WILSON'S earnest attention and
uncommon powers Of expression in
national questions of official concern
that come properly within his prov
ince. THE SUN, now as at all times
when it believes he is right, certainly
has no wish to withhold Its prompt
and hearty recognition Of a creditable
proceeding on his part on account Of
any previous failures or weaknesses
or trafickings with supposed political
expedlency, by his Administration and
his subservient majority in the Con-
gress, in dealing with the excessive
demands OF organized railroad labor
at the time of the enactment of the
Adamson law and over and over again
afterward.
The fundamental truth of which We
speak is that the universally desired
reduction in the cost of living can be
brought about only by increased pro-
duction and rigid economy TIL the
dawn of better day; not by piling
up for the benefit of any preferred
class the costs of production and con-
sequently the cost of living. AS the
President points out, the attempt to
meet the burdensome conditions by
increasing unduly the wages of rail-
way employees, in the hope Of solving
ct ond nnhndxy aon
tell how long it will last or how soon
it will be over. would result only
In the necessity for repeating the
process, and so on indefinitely to the
edge of the precipice Of an overwhelm-
ing disaster to American industry. A
proposition so simple and so obviously
grounded in sound economic principle
has seldom been stated so concisely
as in Mr.. WILSON'S two letters of
Monday. 1t might be added that this
applies equally to inordlnate wage in
creases and to inordinate decreases in
the hours Of productive activity.
The argument or claim Of the shop
men, -nd of the various classes of
railroad employees who have used In
the past and may attempt to use in
the future the strategic advantage of
an employment indispensable to the
commercial life Of the nation, would
be just as good In the case of mum.
bcr!ess other departments OF the In
dustrial system. But, as the Presi
dent says, the increases In the cost
of transportation which would neces
sarily result from increases In the
wages of the railroad employees would
more certainly and more Immediately
defeat the Governments efforts to
bring about return to normal con
dltions than any other enhanced wage
costs. The only things that have dis
tingulshed the position of the rail
road workers in this respect are first
their repeated threats, direct or i'm
piled, of the exercise of power +,
paralyze all commerce at the expens,
of the welfare of their fellow citizons
and, secondly, the superior facilities
from their own point of view, affordo,
by the temporary Government contro