The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-10-18
THE PUBLIC ASSERTS ITSELF


predomlnaung rights OF the public In
Industrial controversies. In the late
summer OF 1915. whom the nation was
In The ominous shadow Of approach
Ing war. tho four great railroad BROTH
erhoOds presented drestic demands
and announced that they would be
enforced, II necessary. by a nation-
Wide strike. President Wilson, con-
corned Tor his campaign for rc-clcc-
ton. interviewed IN the name Of b
public. But whom The brothorh0Ods
refused to withdraw their ultimatuDi
he yielded, and forced through cor
greas q bill e%mbodyinF their domands.
without any effective inquiry into the
fpcts. The railway workers. as one
OF their leaders candidly asowcd, had
employed an adaptation OF the ruth
less methods Of tho caveman. ana
their victory over the government was
hailed by thom as justification for
thtir policy.
But despite his depiorable set
hack, or rather because OF ~ h pub
DC mind held more doEFedlp than ev-
cr 10 the Two hanic ideas Il had adopt
ed--nrst, The principle OF arbitration;
and, second, the doctrine that IN any
contests OF this nature h rights OF
society as n whole take precedence
over the desires or rights OF any
groups. There American opinion
stands immoNobiy To-Day.
Il was because OF D pressure or
this sentiment that President Wilson.
who for six months had ignored the
impending industrial crisis. was I'M
/ PEELED to summon to a national con-
ferc ce representatives q the three
parties IN Interest.
General regret II felt that tho pres
sidcnt was notable to open h delib-
erations. for n keynote uttcrance from
the chief executive OF the nation
would have greater carrying power
than the words OF any other man. Yet
he undoubtedly would have offered
merely striking congratulations. ana
ns a matter OF practical Influence they
would not have een more effective
thar the concise suggestions OF his
substitute. Secretary Wilson, Of the
department OF labor, a patriotic ana
well-informod American, has given
years to the promotion OF the best
interests and aims OF oRyanized labor
and understands as well os any man
living the complexities and obetacies
which Confront those who seek 10 ea-
tablish Industrial peace.
when n man OF his experience de-
I clares his belief hat the problem IA
not inaoluble. the assurance is worth
something; aud when he says thai m
creased production is the fundamental
] INuUNNNINANNA III ANtAhAANE NAAt $50 -
tive contest between labors demands
aud the high cost OF living. his judy
mont carries conviction. Increases in
the wage rate" he urged. d not at
WAYS give relief. The more productive
we nrc the ooncr we shall replace
the wastnee OF war. return to normal
price levels and abolish the oppor-
] tunity for prontocring. This Is a
. straight rejection Of the doctrines OF
Buishcyism and Syndicalism and Tor
the bettermcnt OF labcr's condition
through Increased production accom-
panied by assured division OF the re-
turns upon a fair basis.
The selection for the permanent
chnirmnnship OF the conference was
most fortunately made. Secretary
Lane is the ublest man In the presi-
dents cabinet. as would be better rec
ognlzcd " he had not been kept In the
background on account OF his utense-
lv patriotic convictions. \ man OF
vision and constructive ideas. n strong
~ mpathizcr with labor, whilo a tirni
supporter OF the rights o, capital, he
les also a believer In the supremacy
OF the public right. lie viii preside
over the proceedings impartially and
help 20 shape them in the common Ia
terest.
There will be no disposition to pick
flaws In President Wilson's list OF
delegates invited TO the conference,
vet il has been observed that the per-
sonnet of the section representing the
public includes some curious selec-
lions. Many citizens In the great
majority not affiliated with either la
bor or capital are a little hnftlcd TO
find themselves represented. for eN-
umpio. BY Ebert N. Gary. head OF the
United States steel corporation, and
by Bert NJ. Jewell, one Of the most
radical OF the railroad labor leaders
who proclaimed that unless the i'm.
possible Plumb plan were accepted
the whole transportation system OF
the country would be paralszed by 4
strike.
hut despite such anomalies and
signs OF disagreement. and the fac
that some representatives Of both cap
ital and labor are against coming &c
any understanding that would curtai
their arbitrary power, the signiti
cnnce OF this gathering 10 unmistakn'
bio and encouraging. Its very assem-
bling is a recognition OF the superior
tights OF the public I'M Of the over
whciming demand that Industrial dis
putes shall not be fought out by brut'
force. but shall be settled hy modern
enlightened. olvllised methods OF I'D