Evening star., 1921-10-26
Editorial Digest
The Menace of Rail Paralysis!


the greatest calamities that can be-
fall country nationwide paraly-
sis of it's transportation-the prob
lem of agencies for handling such
situation becomes a vital one. which
American editors just now are seri-
ously considering. Aside from the
merits Of any given controversy
which threatens to result in a rail-
road strike, the very menace that II
| holds brings up questions which are
graphically put by the Omaha World
Herald Independently thus:
How shall society defend itself
against the perverted Frankenstein
it has reared to serve it, and which
threatens 1t with destruction? How
much longer can peoples and govern
| ments content themselves with say
ing it is too bad and damn the luck?
! How much longer rely on moral sua-
sion and an inchoate public opinion.
and a President rushing, hat in hand.
from door to door, pleading with both
sides for Gods sake to be reasonable,
and if not reasonable, merciful?"
1t Is no vain assertion, however, in
the opinion Of the Christian Science
Monitor (Boston). independently that
1.-The people of the United States have
provided adequate and altogether sat
| isfactory agencies for the adjustment
of just such differences as those
which now threaten Industrial stag
nation and social discomfort. the
reference of the Monitor is to the
/ railroad Labor Board, but the "ade-
quacy" and "satisfactoriness'' Of that
| body Is a matter Of much dispute IN
! the press. The conclusion which news
| papers seem to have reached Is that
! as an agency of mediation the Lapor
Board is adequate only when It's de-
! csions are satisfactory, and that In
| the absence of power to enforce It's
awards the public is still without
means of protection against actiFe
conflict between the roads ana the
employees >,
We have gone to great lengths"
says the Muncie Und.) Star (inde-
| pendent republican,, "in supplying
| labor with tribunals where its evil
| dence and arguments may be pre-
sented to sympathetic ears. Labor
answer now is that when decisions
suit it, it will obey them, and when
they do not we must face rebellion.
At the same time, the JohnstoWn
Democrat (democratic) points out,
the railroads have shown a DISPOSE
ton to disregard or even to de1y tne
Raiload Labor Board" and since Ger
l
boards mendations with I'M
| ounity." the Knoxville Sentinel dnde.
| pendent democratic) suggests that
the board is placed in position
which makes it more difficult to deal
effectively with the strike threat
The fact that the board has no
means for compelling observance. eX-
cept the pressure of public Senti-
! ment," is. to the Richmond Times
Dispatch dndependent democratie,; era e.
| 'one of the vital defects" of the act
/ treating the board, which "should
never have been allowed to become
I law without the necessary penalty
! clause attached" So far as enforce
ment is concerned, the Springfield re-
| publican Independently agrees thas
ridiculous in its failure to make
| violation of the boards decisions
an offense against the law, since "a
| decision cannot enforce ITSELF FUR
| ther, the Wall Street Journal tnde-
! uendenO points out. the act does not
| even define a violation of the board s
! orders" AS part of legislation when
! makes .'ela borate provision for financ-
| ing roads, fixing rates ana reguia-
! tions." and so on, the Rocky Noun
lit strange" that Congress should
have left to the public. the vital
question of wages and rules for en-
ployes." Rather. it asks, "is It not an
| i.eEhibitiOn of moral cOvard1ce. III
iany event, the Sprin gfieid Republican
replies that it was no accident.
! The -Cummins law, the chi
| cago News Independently concedes,
"is not as potent as 1t might be |;
| nevertheless "the intent of Congress
| is clear and certain" The Railroad
! Labor Board was established. the
! Lincoln (Neb.) State Journal inde-
! pendent, republican, explains. "as a
| neutral or, at least. bipartisan
court" and, while Its decisions may
! not be legally enforcible." 1t Is per-
! haps undesirable, at the present
stage. that they should be-" In the
! nature of things. the New York GLOBE
| independently holds, absolute au-
| thority could not be exercised, be-
, cause Capitalists cannot be com
/ PEELED to hire men and men cannot be
compelled to work" And the reason
! for the omission OF a penalizing pro.
| vision should not be lost sight or,
/ the Boston Transcript independent
, republican, observes. Rather tnan
establishing court to pass. upon
! the boards decision and compel
; obedience, Congress preferred 10 reIy
, on 1.-The great court of public opin-
! ion,'' and the issue precipitated by
| the calling of a general strike can
i be regarded" the Oklahoma City
| Oklahoman (democratic) thinks, "as
test of the power OF the peopie 70
! compel respect for the decisions Of
{: a board created for the purpose of
! insuring justice, not only for. the
| railways and the railway workers,
but for the public also.