The Washington times., 1921-10-17

they viii tie up every railroad in
the United States except Henry
Ford's railroad. He raised wages
and reduced rates instead Of
vsising rates and reducing wages
As the others have done.
Railroad owners say they will
rely on the public to deal with
the situation and compel strik-
tn4 men to run the roads.
THE public, IL seems, is not fit
70 pwn or manage railroads, but
VIII do as a club to force the
men back.
The President, intervening,
demands mediation. The city of
Detroit, well equipped by its au-
tomobile industry, will provide
necessary fleets of trucks to
keep food moving.
The city of New York says it
Will commander all food sup
plies and ration the inhabitants
II necessary.
All shipping would be tied up,
all foreign commerce and all in
terstate commerce brought to a
standstill-and all because rail
Road owners, borrowing money
at usurious rates, exploiting
their roads for the benefit of in
siders, competing for business
and with each other on a nom
scientific, wasteful basis, de-
mand that their men accept
cut in wages, with a vague
promise to reduce railroad rates
later.
The President knows, as do
the Attorney General and every
thinking man, that there Is some
thing more threatening on the
horizon than an ordinary "great
strike" This country is sick
and needs care, not a first-class
Industrial fight. 1t should not
risk all that is involved in a ma
tional industrial convulsion for
the sake of few individuals
hat control the railroads or of
two and q half millions that
work for railroads.
When the late war began, the
nation took charge of affairs,
told railroad owners and work.
men what they must do. This
threatening strike might pro-
duce within the nation a war
much more serious than the war
Just ended. The Government
should take charge Of, the situa-
ton and do it now. There
shouldn't be any duibbling or
hair-splitting about keeping the
mails running. none of the old
fashioned methods Of putting the
Government against the strikers
without actually saying SO.
Add to the five or six NH
lions Of discontented employees
two and a half million we'll
organized fighting railroad men
and there may come trouble
temporarily beyond Government
control.
Those responsible should study
England's methods, the infinite
patience and tact of her govern
ment under similar conditions.
jealing with English workers.
They have experienced statesmen
there, educated men that know
It is hard to put out fire once
lt starts.
It is wrong for two and half
million workmen to tie up and
threaten a hundred millions, even
with their living, their future.
Mt stake. It is infinitely worse
for a handful Of railroad own
ers. with dividends, hoped-for
profits, only involved. to say. as
they are saying:
"We have got to beat these
Jworkmen sooner or later; we
might as we'll do it now while
times are bad and freight busi-
ness dull. The public must take
its medicine and do our fighting
for us IL it wants railroad serv-
ice."
The National Government should
protect the nation When 1t Is
threatened from outside. or inside.
Ana tntS TuUTOud o"No, ooooo W
the men and not much disturbing
the railroad oUners apparently, IS
a great national menace. Those re-
spo7,sble for IL are encouragers Of
disorder, reckless of the general
s,,lblio's pelfare, breeders of an
archy and iltfeelfng.
Both sides know that strike of
this kind fought to a finish will
not be fought without violence.
such a strike would involve great
obstruction of life and property.
II would cost the nation more than
the amount the railroads would
save in ten years if they won their
strike. and 1t would cost the rail-
roads more than they would save.
Railroad rates and wages, rail-
road control itself, all questions
affecting public welfare, the Gov
ernment controlled in the inter-
national war. The Government has
no right to stand aside, no matter
where it's sympathies may be, in
an industrial civil war. That is
what it means when two and
half million organized men declare