The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-24
THE DAILY WAGE AWARD

contains surprises only in details
THESE are more interesting to those
VINO are to receive the wages than TO
those who must pay them. The total
increase Is 5000. 900, retroactive to
May and therefore falls upon the tax-
payers under their guarantee running
until September. The award is bind
ing upon the country to pay, but II is
me, pnact.caple TO make an award that
men must work. The authority of the
award depends upon the support Of
pubic opinion. This is not unaiterably
nNed, but the presumption is that the
award Is Just and should be accepted
ny tne men. as II must be by the coun-
NY IL Is not reasonable to expect that
me men should accept without crlti-
clsm an award less than asked by
nearly half. But Is 1t not right to
ask the mon, even the "outlaw" strlk-
eers' 10 consider the need Of the coun-
Try, and even Of the world, in connec-
stiles?
The. wages allowed are the highest
ever known, The. finances OF the rail-
approaching insolvency but for the as-
sumption OF deficits by the treasury
Tor all but bakers dozen OF compa-
MES, An Increase of n billion dollars
IN revenue was necessary before this
per cent. to care for the wages now
increased. These are not reasons why
any railway man should accept less
wages than he can earn elsewhere.
Nobody is asking one of them to make
any sacrifice. for the country. The
business, like any other business, must
pay the wages necessary to keep the
men at work In times OF peace But
the workers must consider whether It
IL to their Interest to cripple the in
NaTifh NH -
by wage forced unreasonably high
These are matters rather of business
discretion than OF patriotism or indus
trial duty. IL Is idle to say that the
opinion Is all one way, when the wage
! ,nrd Itself Is divided. The country
itself will be divided, except In two
things. The country will feel itself
bound by the award, and will feel that
tho men should also be bound, except
FOR cause shown to the country. Also,
moro than half way TO meet the men,
and that II they wish to seek other
employment they should do so In a.
manner. which will not compromise
York Times und. Dem.).
The public will undoubtedly approve
the award, for II recognizes that rail-
road labor has been underpaid In COM
parison. with labor In less important
creases in railroad wages have been
held back by tho interstate commerce
commissions, policy, initiated by the
federal railroad administration. OF
keeping railroad earnings artincially
low. This policy has been as injurious
to the men as II has been 20 the rail-
road owners. And by checking the de-
velopment OF transportation facilities II
has also done vast injury to the
shipping and consuming public.
The conditions under which the award
has been made emphasize again the
impracticability OF the government
railroad policy. The roads as whole
are being operated Mt a loss, covered In
paN by guarantees from the federal
have been delayed although the gov
ornment's rental guarantees will expire
on OCT /, Now an addition to operat-
Ing expenses amounting to 5000, 900, 600
But higher freight rates, II and when
granted. will not be retroactive, More
win be piled up for congress
to meet at the next session, and the
reduction. OF swollen. federal expendi-
lures viii be retarded.
The pay-as- you-go theory has had
no credit with the federal regulators.
Money IN spent on behalf OF the rail-
roads before II comes In, and often
without any worry as to whether It is
going to come In or not. The federal
wage arbitration boards and the inter-
state commerce commission have oper-
ated independently. The commission
has shown little disposition TO note
to take them Into account In fixing
rates.
This Is trnvesty on fair and intel
ligent administration. II ought 10 stop,
The Esch -Cummips law intended that
Il should stop, The reorganized inter-
state commerce commission is now put
on trial The railroads cannot be OPP
Grated In N vacuum. The plain COM
mon sense OF the situation Is to let !
them earn enough money to pay their
way and to bring In fair return on
invested capital. II has been an eccen-
trio idea 10 starve them and then dole
out relief from funds borrowed by the
government or raised by taxation. |
New York Tribune (Rep),
CAMPAIGN STYLES
The relative merits OF the front
porch" and the Touring" fashions in
campaigns are to be demonstrated In
the presidential canvass this fall II the
candidates adhere TO their respective
plans. Senator. Harding has announced
his intention OF remaining AZ his home
In Marion, where he viii receive dele |
cations and address them upon the
question OF the hour, Internationally is
suing statements to the public outliu- |
inr his views upon matters 81 interest, |
Gov. Cox saws he win Rdopt the oppo- |
site course. touring the country, meet |
ing tho people face 10 face and dis !
GUESSING with them the Issues involved /
In tho contest
Among experienced practical pon> |
ticians there are advocates of both 1
plans, some contending that it is In |
cumhent upon the candidate 20 20 TO 4
tho people and come into personal con-
tact with az many ~ them as possible,
while others take the view that the
dignity Of the office 20 which the can
ddAte aspiros prccludes any unseemly
scramble for votes, As tho late Sena-
tor Allison doubtless would have re-
marked N pushed FOR a decision. There
IL something to he said on both sides"
In deciding to conduct a front porch
campaign. Senator Harding Il following
the example set by President Mckinley
In his contests for the presidency. Nc
Kinley was rated as one ot the most
effective cRmpaigners the country ever
knew, As a member Of ConRrcss and
rs governor 81 his state hts services
an stump orator were IN demand IN
every national canvass and he had
Travelled IN every part Of the nation.
preaching the republican gospel with
telling effect. But when he became the
candidate IA rYfiroA "a hls az