Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-17
r TUESDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1920.
G'1sniaf'SG Evsnias Yestsfdsy sseds 142O2
Another Great Service by the President

Instead of being in the throes OF s
great strike by thousands Of railroad EN-
ployes, today, the country finds itseli
in a gratifying condition of industrial
peace. The strike has been averted for
time, and probably will soon be settled
permanently. The railroads will be re-
burned TO former private ownership on
March without the serious disturbance
of a strike to affect the resumption of
former relations, and the people will not
have to put up with the interferences,
The inconvcniences and the dangers that
attend all serious labor disturbances,
and especially those involved in general
strike by railroad employees.
For this high favor, as for numerous
others of equal value in results, the people
are indebted to President Wilson. The
strike had been called and the outlook
was ominoue. Last week, the heads OF
the various organizations of railroad en-
pIoves involved in the strike movement
had an interview with President Wilson,
at the White House, and as a result OF
this interview the strike was called oti.
To-day. therefore, We have industrial
psace. instead Of disturbing and threaten
ing industrial war.
We do not, however, find the country
ringing with praise of President Wilson
for his great accomplishment in the inter-
est of the people. 1t has become such
regulation affair to discredit the President
upon every opportunity in recent days,
especially since his illness, that q really
notable achievement is obecured by an
opportunity to assail hum with hostile
criticism for something else, of no public
concern whatever, affecting no policy
administration in which the people are
interested, and based only upon his
private relations with member OF his
official family, q department head IN his
cabinet.
The details Of the Presidents conference
with the heads of the railway employees
organizations have not yet been made
public. but the authorized announcement
that the arrangement for suspension OF
strike orders had been reached even IN
the face of the President S refusal to meet
the demands of the two million railroad
workers for q general wage increase,
showed that whatever arguments had been
employed, they were not the arguments
of complete surrender by the President.
And although the strike order was not
officially rescinded, there was general
acceptance of the announcement that 1t
would not be made effective. The strike
had been set for this morning, but this
morning railroad conditions were as
usual.
While the situation is one of uncer-
tainty to some extent. there is reason to
believe the strike has been fully averted,
and that there will be no further disturb
ances. For this much the people may
thank President Wilson. 1t is remarkable
that among his first public actions since
his recovery from most serious and
protracted illness, one that for a time
threatened permanent results of very
grave character, should be one of such
consequence. He met situation that
required the finest exercise Of diplomacy,
the best expressions of fair dealing and
he succeeded beyond expectations. For
the present he has saved the country from
a great strike that would have imposed !
misery and suffering upon millions OF |
people.
If some of President Wilson's detractors
could show performances for this public /
good in any manner approaching those
that already stand to his credit, they |
might with some degree of propriety
indulge in their favorite pastime of severe
criticism and bitter attack. Failing in
this, they might at least have the decency
TO give approval to such achievements as
the settling of the miners strike and the
setting aside of the railroad mems strike,
even if they cannot bring themselves to
to the limit the eminence and
enormous value of his public services.
But many of them seem to be controlled
by a spirit Of the meanest hostility.
against which the ordinary tenets of
honesty and fair dealing are of no avail.