The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-01-06
CUM|M|N' s BILL.
FAIR TO. EVERY
:. ONE INVOLVED

through its president, Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., today gave out the fol-
lowing statement from its Washing
ton headquarters
"The anti-strike clause of the
Cummins railroad bill presents a
very simple and clearly defined ques-
= tion-whether the public interest in
transportation shall be protected or
shall be constantly menaced by the
possibility Of interruption of service.
1t may be admitted, as claimed by
labor union spokesman, that there is
slight danger of a general railroad
tie-up for any considerable period of
time. That there will not be such a
suspension of railroad operation can
not be asserted by the labor unions,
however, in view of the definite
threat made in 1916 that a general
strike would be called at a certain
hour on a specified day unless the
demands of the employees should be
met. The four brotherhoods de-
monstrated that rail tie-up is a
grave possibility from which the ma
tion may suffer in loss of comfort,
convenience, property, and life.
1.-The very fact that labor unions
protest against enactment of the
anti-strike o provision is evidence
enough that whenever it suits their
pleasure they will strike to enforce
their demands. The protest Of the
unions against the provision should
cause the rest of the people to insist
upon it's enactment for protection of
their own rights and the welfare of
may never be called, the possibility
of strike is constant menace
which every business man must con-
slider, in every undertaking and in
every contract he may make. That
uncertainty is one of the hazards of
every business that depends upon
Transportation for it's continuance.
But aside from the purely COM
mercial interest of the nation in un-
broken railroad transportation, there
is the fundamentally more important
consideration that a strike is an un-
Just means of settling dispute. In
an enterprise so vitality important as
transportation, a strike is nothing
more nor less. than application of
r. ;e .v,tth ho att
to say that in 1915 the four brother
hoods held pistol to the head OF
Congress and commanded enactment
of desired legislation. More effec-
tive intimidation could not be de-
vised than the. threat to interrupt
transportation Of supplies, thus stop
ping all the wheels of industry and
bringing suffering, starvation and
death to inhabitants of cities.
ss' Force. in the',form ,of strike is
no ihOre appfopriate as A smethod of
settling disputes than is force in the
form of physical violence. The Cum
Minis bill proposes better remedy.
1t provides for establishment of
committees on wage adjustments,
with authority to- take testimony
and adjudicate controversies, thus
arriving at fair Judgment as be-
tween the employees and the public.
Every railway wage controversy is
in reality between the employees and
the public, for in the final analysis
the public pays the wage.
1.-THE Cummins bill not only as
sures an equitable system of settling
wage disputes, but expressly pre-
serves the individual right to quit
railroad employment for any cause,
shall be no conspiracy to interfere
with interstate commerce. strike.
Under the Cummins bill, every rail- I
road employe would be at full lib S
erty to cease his employment when /
ever he could secure better wages or c
more agreeable work elsewhere, or I
even if he desired to cease work en- t
tirely. The only purpose of the 1
anti-strike provision is to impose v
upon railroad employees the same OBJ c
legation that is imposed upon rail- t
road owners-continuous transporta-
tion service. Whenever employees {
are given the right to strike to force
payment of higher wages, it will be
proper to give owners the right to i,
suspend traffic to force payment of :
higher rates. One privilege is just ),
the other"