Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-23
NATIONAL CITY BANK
ONbROTHERHOODPLANS
Holds Utterances Are Unreasonable
and That Congress Is Supreme
Authority Over Railroads.

The following is an extract from the
Americas, published by the National
City Bank OF New York:
The utterances of the chiefs Of the
railroad trainmen are most disap-
pointing, because the business COM
munity has been accustomed to place
confidence in these men as intelligent
and well informed as well as good i'm
disclaimed revolutionary purposes,
and certainly the rank and file Of the
railroad orders as individuals are
good citizens. 1t is true that the chiefs
gave a shock to the country two
son law from Congress under strike
threat, but even so the business COM
munity was not prepared for the ex-
travagant utterances which have re-
Gently come from them.
Congress has been proceeding for
some months. as expeditiously as pos
sible with the task of finding solu-
ton for the railroad problem; The
have had hearing upon the subject
and are formulating bills. it being
the common understanding that there
would be no postponement action ana
that some dsssrmi Inaas% t Wouia De
to be the explanation Of the action
of the brotherhoods. They have not
been content to allow Congress- to FOL
low the normal courses ;.s OF iegisi n.her
citizens are invited to.
Their demands were presented In
such a manner as to create alarm
throughout the business community
They carried the idea that unless
complied with the railroads would be
closed to traffic, the greatest possible
disaster which could befan the coun-
try. It is difficult to understand how
any body of men can have such
distorted idea of their own rights as
to seriously. consider the inf1iction
far beyond being an attack upon the
owners of railroad property; it is, q
menace to the government and all of
the people of the country. So long
as any probability exists that a con-
certed action to tie up the railroads
portant fact in the business situa-t
ton. 1t is a matter of vital concern
that such a threat should be made
and that such possibility should
exist. In no other way is the common
welfare and prosperity SO at the
the idea that any group should claim
such power is intolerable. How can
men safely plan for business opera
tions with such q threat hanging
over them? Upon what theory of
social relations can the men who have
railroads claim the right to exercise
such power over the entire national
life-to paralyze industry. throw mil
lions out of employment out. or the
movement of food into cities. and dis
organize all the processes of orderly
community life?
The Supreme Court Of the United
States. by its decision upon the
Adamson law in 1917, established the
paramount authority of Congress- over
the conduct of the railroads. definitely
settling that the rights OF both own
ers and employees were subordinate to
the rights OF the public. President
Wilson at that time also took the Pc
sition that, while the right of an en-
ploye to quit work by himself would
not be Questioned, = the Fight. Of
body OF employer to conspfre to tie
Public oplnIon should make itself
felt 30 definitely upon this point that
this menace will cease. q .a---a.,'