Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-24
Glass Demands Defeated

IN the face Of opposition by organized labor
Opposition which has been carried al
most to the point Of attempted coercior.--the
overwhelming majority by which Congress
adopted the conference report on the rail
road bill is encouraging In it's showing of
resistance on the part of that body TO the
dictation OF class interests in legislation
which vitality concerns the American people
az Il whole, and which, worked out on any
other basis than recognition Of the superior
public interest," would be equivalent TO in
rltlng disaster TO the entire economic struc-
turc upon which the prosperity Of the nation
rests. To have yielded TO the demands OF
organized labor would have meant ignoring
overwhelming public sentiment regarding the
unwisdom OF continued government opera
ton ana TO have committed the country to
policy OF extending governmental functiuning
into private business enterprise contrary 10
the genius % our political institutions under
which the republic has attained to its pres
ent status the strongest natiall ecouomi-
cally in existence and with a degree of. pros
perty unrivalcd in the history of tho world
That the Senate will concur with the lower
prancn or Congress In acceptance OF the re
port during the present week bv even a
larger proportiOnatc majority, seems assured
Just what action the President will take on
the measure when it reaches his hands is
uncertain. as he has given no intimatiun
respecting his opinion of the bin at any stage
labor will rcdoublc its efforts to defeat the
DIT by using every conceivable argument it
can command to induce the President to veto
It, Labor leaders arc encouraged in the be-
lief that they may be able to prevail upon
the President to take this course by reason
OF the fact that in tho past he 'has yielded
10 their demands, notably in using the power
or his position to force eight hour LEGISLATION
through Congress.
however. since the President. in putting
up TO Congress the working out of the de-
'uilS oil legislation providing for the return
Oh the railroads to private ownership. con
ioSseu 10 Il lack OF definite ideas us TO wha;
"ou'u constitute satisfactory and safe
measure, 1T may be reasonably assumed that
nc Is Wiling to abide the judgment OF that
DodE as 10 the character of legislat ion needed
10 meet the situation and will approve the
measure, regardless OF organized labors pro-
tcsl. 10 do otherwise. would be TO put tho
"hoie SITUATION up in the air. and to invite
confusion and possible disaster TO the bust.
moss of the country
\ me Dill, as reported from conference is
compromise whipped together from tho
fundamentals OF the Senate and House bills
ana With the present lights before Congress
IL undoubtedly as satisfactory Il mca sure as
cohld DC framed and agreed upon If the whole
business were to be done over again. II
lacks much OF being perfect but in its fun
damehtal features 1t is a long step in the
right direction and experience shows tho
necessity therefor, it supplies the germ of n
measure which>nay be improved and made
adaptable TO all OF the country's require
mcnts ior governmental regulation of this
important branch of its industrial system