Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-21
Setting Il New Precedent

DRESlpENT WILSON. in declining to en-
tcr'alh the grievances either of the rail
way brothcrhouds or the railway officials
reminded the country forcibly that the ma
chin"ry exists for the settlement of all rail
way wage disputes; that controversies OF tho
future must be submitted to the properlv
ordered tribunals. and the old habit of
groups of labor leaders or of capitalists
hurrying off TO Washington to submit their
troubles To the President or To Congress
might as we'll come to in abrupt end
PRESIDENT Harding will save himself n
great deal Of travail II he follows the pre-
cedent sci by MIR. Wilson The former
should avail himself of the first appropriate
opportunity To rc-cniorcc the view OF his
predecessor and To impress upon railroad
labor and railroad owners the necessity Of
dealing with the interstate Commerce Com
mission on the one hand. and the Railroad
Labor Board on the other when differences
arise.
1t was the common practice of these
interests since 1914 10 rush of to Wash
ihGton with direct appeal to the Prcsi-
dent for action every Time "A DISPUTE de-
vcloped. While no machinery was in ex-
lsiencc for handling such matters the Presi-
ucnt found 1t difficult to remain inactive.
This was particularly true in 1916, when n
general railway strike was threatened and
ID
hcve, by the enactment OF the Adamson
law.
throughout the whole of the war labor
interests particularly bcseged the White
house with demands that they be protected
y temporary labor mediation board was set
ur for war purposes with former President
TAFT as It's head. TO this went all contro-
Ncrsies and out OF ii came settlements which
Kept labor and capital in more or less har-
go Lot linn, la
tinued.
Then came the bituminous and anthracite
coal strikes and the railway switchmen's
strike. all OF which were unloaded upon
The White House. Ii did not matter an
parcnt!y. ihat the President was bedridden
ana unable To intervene personally The
ciamor Tor White House action was nm
abated. Even after the bituminous arbitra-
ton board had finished its work and after
'he anthracite board had made its award
tie dissatisfied petitioners returned to the
PRESIDENT Tor a rcopcning OF the awards
Congress undertook 10 meet this situa-
ton, as it applies to the railroads in tho
enactment of the Transportation ac, nv in
cooperating an nntistrike provision but this
was defeated Even So, the Railroad Labor
hoard was created and is now functioninr
II has fun authority TO examine tho priev
ances OF either party to il railroad wage
controversy and President Wilson has re-
lusea To ihtrnde upon the powers Of that
Dody. Moreover, he has informed the rail
road operators that they have lawfully
constituted authority in the Interstate Com
merce Commission to which they can appeal
II they find themselves in financial straits
The stand taken by President Wilson has
added immeasurably 10 the prestige ;f In.
commission and the labor board Mr.. VIII
sons decision means that these bodies and
ho' me White House. are the courts of las,
resort in wnge issues 1t, OF course, remains
to be seen II Mr. Harding follows The Lad
oi his predecessor II he fails TO do H. he
VIII bring the two tribunals into mo-n mr.
i'"s contempt and will defeat The purposes
which nnder!ay The action Of Congress in
endowing those bodies with swcepinr
powers.
An industrial itcm is ma, Germany is using
window cords made u paper. SCRAPS az pao.r
that !rea'ieS w"r" ono" written upon. perhaps