The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-10-20
AS Others See 1t
FhE STRIKE
palm Beach Post.)

A railway workers strike has been ordered
which if it takes place Till wC:': h.vcc with tho
entire country, but the have not stopped
work as yet, and great deal of water pass
under the bridge between now and the thirtieth
of October. A general railroad strike is
laughing matter On the other hand no good
end will be reached by hysteria, bad temper, or
calamity bowling at this time.
The immediate task is to move heaven and
earth to avert the strike. If in spite of every
effort it becomes reality the nation will have
to meet a crisis that will require every particle
of its material and human resources. Above ev-
erything else, cool heads will be imperative dur
ing the next few weeks.
Strike or no strike, this is a time for thought
full, carefully calculated procedure but be-
fore deciding that the end of the world is in
sight and that all plans and hopes might just
we'll be put aside, it would be we'll to remember
that although general railroad strikes have
threatened before, this country has never exper-
fenced one. ItImay come this time, but we can
be very sure that it will not be until strenuous
measures have been tried to bring both parties
in the dispute to their senses
1t is no secret that great many railroad Of
fcials would like nothing better than a strike
at this time. They have made it apparent that
with the present labor surplus they would find
a strike a very useful weapon to discredit the
unions and ito teach labor its place" The unions
know this as well as the next person, and most
of their officers consequently are opposed to the
strike The enormous majority of votes cast by
union men in favor of the strike is evidence of
deep-seated resentment and bitter mood that
cannot be ignored. Railroad labor is generally
intelligent skilled labor and when it votes for
a strike with all of the odds in the other sides
favor it means that for real or fancied reason
the men desperate.
1t is high time that the railroad situation was
given thorough overhauling AS it is now, the
one paramount fact is that both officials and
workers are spending a great deal time
and energy fighting each other than they are
putting into providing transportation for the pub.
lie. The Shipper and traveller and the consumer
have no occasion to feel sympathetic towards
either party to the quarrel From top to bottom
the railroad system is about as bad as public
utility be, and that is bad. However badly
the men and the officials are treating each other,
they are both treating the public worse. They
are horses of very similar stripe. One wants to
keep its high rates and half billion dollars that
belongs in the United States treasury The
other wants to keep it's high wages
The laborer is worthy of his hire, and capital
has right to a return its money, but the
public has right to transportation at reason
able cost. If there is party to the triangle
that is entitled at this time to stand up and raise
Cain, it is the public. Perhaps if the public in
stead of dividing into two camps and squawking
alternately boshevsm and privilege, would join
Hands at this time vand fight for its rights it
would not only avert the strike but effect toll
erably satisfactory transportation service and
teach railroad labor and officiadom wholesome
lesson.