Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-29
Point of Resistance Is Reached

THE shipments committee OF 100, having
l referred the Presidents offer of 4 cents
per hour wage increase, with ten hours pay
for eight hours work, coupled with his re-
fusal to grant them the increase they de-
manded, to the unions for vote on accept
ance or rejection of the offer, the country
anxiously awaits the result OF this vote.
Early scattering returns indicate that the
shopmen will refuse to accept the com
promise offer. In such event. the country
Immediately will face the prospect Of COM
plete tie-up Of its transportation system, as
a walkout OF the shopmen quickly will be
followed by general strike of other railway
employees.
The prospect Of such an industrial conflict
is fraught with serious menace, and the Amer
lean people can but view it with grave apprc-
hension. 1t would not only paralyze all ef
forts at roadjustment OF industry to peace
conditions, but would infict greater burdens
the people than those under which they
are already staggering. But if organized
labor has lost its patriotism and. refusing TO
listen to reason. has made up its mind TO
seize the country by the throat and force its
demands at the cost of punEing the nation
into disorder and the untold suffering that
would ensue the American people would pre-
fer TO meet the test than have it post
poned to later date. Public sentiment
clearly indicates that this is the common atti-
tude. The public has borne with commend
able patience The added burdens of increasing
wage scales and the resultant higher cost of
living in the vicious circle which it imposes
until. At the prevailing point of remunera ton
for railway labor, its patience has become
exhausted and il uncquivocally indorses the
Presidents decision that the time has come
ior the workmen to halt In their demands
and join in the common effort to obtain relief
for the whole country by intelligent processes
now under way Not only are the burdens
hN bo 1,pi1
un bearable but ca pital investments are
weighted down by exactions beyond which
further increases would absorb profits alto
sether. For both alike the point of resistance
beyond which there can be no further yielding
without disastrous consequences has been
reached. Hence, if organized labor is deter
mined to press its demands and bring about
interruption of all industry, the American
people will not shrink from the test If
choice between form of Soviet rule and the
American way Of dealing with problems af-
lectlng national life be forced upon them
they are against having the issue postponed
Soon or late 1t will have to be met and the
sooner met the sooner the tension Of the
present will he over
The people Of America have faced many
crises in their national existence I.ncer-
talnty as how best to deal with them has
always given way TO in1exible purpose TO
triumph over every obstacle when the time
camc TO act IL will not be different in face
OF the present menacing situation. A state
OF war continues to exist and our war ma
chlnery is still intact. 1t may he invoked 10
meet any emergency which threatens the com
mon welfare. II is still potential 10 summon
to the colors many millions of American
citizens as may be needed to prevent the
throttiinG OF the national life, whether that
eHort be ny creating disorder and intcrrupt-
ING all industry or by direct attack.