Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-14
|MPEDES
CURE Of IT, ILLS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Wilson'S meeting with the
cabinet for the first time in nearly
eight months has had favorable ef-
feet entirely apart from the conf
dence 1t has instilled that the gov
ernment is taking hold Of the menac-
ing situation caused by the OUTLAW
strike OF railway employees. The mere
fact that in crisis the chief ex-
ecutive was able to confer with the
heads OF the ten departments of the
government served to brush aside, for
the moment at least. thoughts of the
pnysical incapacity Of the President
But much more important than the
outcropping of industrial revolt is the
return to realization here that in
the last seven or eight months the
government. both in it's legislative
and executive branches. has done
notning to cure the economic Ills Of
the country which have made possible
the organization of strike among so
many railroad employees.
Use Law n Expedient.
True enough the cabinet is consid-
ering repressive measures. proposals
oy which the power Of the law shall
be invoked against those who have
conspired to interrupt the transpor-
tation of food for the American peo-
pie, but that is simply q surface ex-
pedient designed for moral effect to
prevent the growth Of Industrial law
iessness. Every member Of the cabf-
net Is aware. as is the President him
self, that Industrial distur Dances in
the United States are not alone due
TO the operations of radicals" but
that cure must be found for the
system which makes it possible for
radicals and demagogues to haxangus
workmen and obtain their support Tor
strike tactfcs and rebellion against
inc s veteran leaders Of organized la
y all kefs back 20 the high cost Of
living. with which the eoyefnmsf,f
has wreatled in vain. The executive
points z blaming finger at the legis-
lative, where for months the pro-
posals OF the President to curb profit
eefing and cut ont the abuses OF GER
tain intermediafe processes between
producer and consumer have not been
acted on any more than the sukses-
tions OF the Secretary of the Treasury
that some of the bad features Of The
present revenue laws be wiped off the
statute books.
The railroad strike has accentuated
the relationship between the high
cost Of living and Industrial chaos.
Samuel Gompers and the veteran,
leaders OF the railroad brotherhoods
are emphatic in their. claims that the
executive branch Of the government
ignored their warnings about the de-
mands OF the employees and that Con-
gress gave evidence in the railroad
legislation that 1t would not heed
the warnings against the radicalism
in labor's ranks, which Mr.. Gompers
and his associates feared.
Now Work Together.
Today the government finds itself
working side by side with the con-
servative leaders of union labor to
influence the striking workmen TO
come back to work. But those same
doubted again and again. have warned
the government against a policy of
neglect. and. while they are using
every effort themselves to keep con-
troll Of their men, they insist that
the present situation is the best proof
the railroad men left at the White
House as early as last July cannot
be longer ignored.
Much is expected of the new rail-
road labor board which has just been
named by President Wilson. but az
happened in the coal strike the
ultimate burden probably will be i'm
posed upon the consumer. Just as the
man who wishes to meet the heayy
excess profits taxes adds a percentage
Of that tax to his prices In order thai
LIS own income shall not be diminish
words. still goes on and the railroad
men. seeing no signs Of a change with
| respect to the commodities they must
buy. are discontented because thei,
pay remains unaltered while Twins
costs go up.
The government will probably at.
tempt to punish the railway men who
brought on the strike il a consnfra cy
can De proved. but there is a genuine
apprehension lest these tactics make
it possible for more demagoRues to
accomplish industrial paralysis such ar
the coal miners successfully carried on
notwithstanding the majesty of the IN.
junction process.
Causes Of Revolt.
| Back Of the Industrial revolt IN ~.
! railways is the cost of living and in.
/ equitable taxation. Congress ia Sod1-
ing legislation because thia 10 co-
paign year. and it's motto Ia ~ ~
the least that will cause noiit,oai
antagonisn1. The executive branch ot
| the government Is equally timid about
| pressing It's case against profiteers
and those who are Keeping IN ~
cost of living. Indeed, Congress- o. .ne ,,e
the executive departments can 'oyI ~,
i the cost OF living If they will but en-.
dorce the IA" on the. statute books
So, between a republican Congress- No
a democratic executive. very I,stie
has happened, though labor leader.
have 5een repeatedly any giving warnine
| The big question now is whetha. .I !
two hostile branches of the govarns ,ne
ment will be able to play anv Ivon. Ionna.
their political games in The ~ ~ aonkel
nationwide industrial crisis. ~
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