New-York tribune., 1920-04-19
The Fruit of the Walk-Out

The railroad walk-out was per
verse and fantastic instance of tn
misuse of industrial power by
reckless minority. The men VIII
wantonly tried to tie up transpor
tation couldn't hope to achieve thei
purpose. AS a hold-up their dem
onstration failed. But they accom-
plished something which they didn'
have in mind, and which may hav,
an enormous effect in protecting th1
public hereafter against the evil eff
fects of disturbances in the railroad
and other essential industries.
The public's right to uninterrupt
ed carriage Of passengers and deliv
cry of food was challenged by the
attempted blockade. For the first
time its reaction to that challenge
was universal and militant. Popu-
lar action raised the embargo. The
fruit Of the walk-out has been a real
awakening of those whose vital in
terests are affected by discontinue
ance of railroad service to the ne
cessit..' IF organized resistance. The
war taught us the folly of military
unpreparedness. The public is un-
prepared to defend itself against
domestic anti-social activities en-
gagged in by belligerent minorities.
But it doesn't intend to remain so.
The formation of a Citizens Pro-
tective Association to keep railroad
communications open is the most
promising move made for years
toward stabilizing railroad opera
ton. Its program is to enforce pub
Tic rights against group interests
and to prevent wage disagreements
or inter-union feuds from being
fought out to the injury of the entire
community.
From the point of view of the
greatest good of the greatest num-
Der there never ought to be another
railroad strike. The Cummins bill
recognized the paramount interest
Of the public by forbidding conspira-
cies to cause a strike or Joint action
by strikers. The House of Repre-
sentatives was too much under the
spell OF old ideas to accept such a
provision. The Esch- -Cummins COM
promise measure left the country
unprotected against the calamity of
a general strike. It's trainers didn't
take sufficient account of the fact
that private warfare between man.
ayers and employees involves an in
tolerable oppression of the millions
whom the roads serve, and serve
with a full acknowledgment of the
governments (that is, the commu-
nity's) right to control operations.
Since the government is at pres
ent too lethargic to insist on unin-
terrupted service, private organiza-
tion must undertake to moderate the
evils Of shutdown. A nationwide
protective association, designed to
keep trains running, will deter
strikes. And if they come, volun-
teer aid, such as the New York COM
muters have given in the present
emergency. will break the shock of
any effort to maroon and starve the
pubic without asking it whether il
Is willing to be marooned and starved
or not
such an organization would have
other functions besides building up
railroad transportation reserve.
1t should bring pressure to bear on
congress to recognize the true
community nature of railroad SER
vice and to pass laws guaranteeing
the country against tie-ups. It
should also work to modify the
shortsighted policy which the In.
terstatc Commerce Commission has
followed in dealing with the rail
foaos. Railroad workers deserve
good pay. They are employed In an
exceptionally important industry.
They work for the community, In a
direct and special sense. The Inter
state Commerce Commission lonp
kept their wages down by denying
the roads adequate revenues. The
railway arrangements would have
been willing to pay the men better Il
the government had allowed them
the wherewithal to do 30.
II men surrender the rirht to
strike they are entitled to compe1-
1at'ng benefits. The governments
policy has been weak and
SbortsiXhted. 1t has been based IN
. false view of the pub',c interest,
The public has nothing against the
'aIlroad workers as class II mere !
Y wants TO harmonic It's own in. /,
erests with theirs. And this end =
an be attpined both ~ creating an d
reserye t1lca againn ,