Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-06

! public, even more than the forces en-
gagged in any conflict.
"Our observation is, as an eminent
labor leader has said, that all strikes
sooner or later are settled around a
table; then why not get around the
table before the strike begins?
1--WE cannot have compulsory arbi-
| tration, because all parties must con-
sent to establish arbitration and enforce
| its conclusions. I think we can have
and ought to have volitional arbitra-
tion. The best thought Of the day com.
mends this way to settlement.
'The wage scale which contemplates
rental cost in one place might be
wholly inadequate TO meet the cost in
another. and a nationalized scale would
work an injustice. This point was de-
veloped in the recent railway contro-
vcrsies.
This brings me to the subject OF rail :
way legislation and the enactment Of
the Cummins Esch bill restoring the
railways to the lawful owners. We
owed IL TO the railway owners to re-
store their property. seized for war
service, just as we owe the return of
the peoples money invested in govern =
ment loans. In free and thoughtful
America we do not take advantage Of
wars tumult to change the regular or
der of things.
81 am well aware that many earnest
railway workers and advocates of the
Socialist plan preferred to take the rail
roads and put them under the operation
of the employees, but that was not con-
templating faith with America or Amer
ican promises. We were honor bound
to make the return. l favored IL for
the additional reason that I do not be-
lieve in government ownership.
Governments Hands Full
1.-The government must do many
things. but it has enough to do with
out invading the field of private ac-
tivity. not. at any rate, until govern
ment demonstrates its capacity for eff
cheney. ~
II do not pretend to say the rail.
way act Is perfect: indeed, l know It
is not. But Congress was dealing with
problem of first Importance, and it
had to speed the legislation. There was
the conflict of many minds. as II was
right there should be. and the final net
was compromise Nevertheless, | be-
lieve it to be good law, and cordially
supported it.
1T does not guarantee dividends.
it limits them. 1t did make six
months guarantee. but that was to
enable the stupendOus financing for
rehabilitation. There was no ample up
keep during the war, and the public is
suffering today from railroad made
Quacy.
The government has held commits
sion control over financing, ratemaking
and all that concerns the shipping pub
lie. and has made working conditions
and wages matters of concern to gov
ernment itself.
Rail Workers Preferred Class
Railway workers are made a pre-
ferred class, and government has sin
gled out railway workers to see that
their lust treatment is matter of pub
lie pledge. This Is progress.
This law does not contain an anti
strike clause. You cannot take away
from any man the right to quit his en-
ployment, but it does aim at the prompt,
instant grant of justice, full justice;
and Justice. men. is the best guarantee
of ali civilization. 1t does not inter
fere with collective bargaining; on the
contrary, it facilitates it.
"More, the brief experience already