Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1921-10-25
NO NEED FOR A STRIKE

y
1t is rather a curious phenomenon
that, in the presence of a great men
ace to the public comfort and health,
so many individuals and organiza- 4
ton leaders are declaring that tn ~
would like to have the great st fSke
come now, and be lover with"
There are two classes of oasrssns
that would like to have Ae strike
called on time, but they ave differ
ent points of view and different rea-
sons for wishing this calamity to be-
fall the nation at .rea, rather thar
have it averted no s, to come at some
later period.
The view of atne of these Classes,
the innocent hystander, the public,
which feel that it is going to be the
chief ST 4fS1er in any event, is that
the SC oner the blow falls the sooner
the country will recover from its eff
fe It's; and this feeling is accompani-
ed by a vague hope that it will thus
. be gotten "out of our SYSTEM" like
. the sediments of some lingering dis
ease. This view is we'll expressed
by a correspondent of the New York
/ Tribune:
CAS- one atom in this country, l
would say, Let's have the railroad
strike; let's have the strike and get
through with it one way or the 9TH
err We are turned upside down
once or twice every year by threats
and more threats from the railroad
employees. 1t is about time we
found out where we are. If they are
, supreme in this country the sooner
we find it out the better and govern
ourselves accordingly. So let's have
a strike and get it out of our sys-
tenn"
The other class is composed of
some of the railroad leaders, who
| think that a strike would clear the
{ air, wipe off the slate, and give them
an opportunity to start over again
A and restore the old pre-war system,
I with more favorable regulations and
t conditions.
. But why invite a disaster that will
= be terrible in its effects, no matter
= which side wins or looses? There is
v no more reason-not so much reason
|, for general strike as there is fol-
q war. A general strike is war, anc
e the wars of the future, at least those
e within empires and states, will be in
i augurated by general strikes. Blu
= why have a strike, when everything
e that may be gained, or lost, by the
:. strike, may be gained or lost through
+ the same sort of arbitration thai
v must enevitably follow the wreckagt
n and wastage of a general strike
It Why not resort to arbitration in tn
# first place? The world of industr!
Il has certainly advanced far enough t
utilize all the machinery of arbitra
|, ton and to call into play all the pre-
# ventive forces and devices that hav
e been worked out through long an
j. painful experience.
n And having the strike now, instea
% of later, will not help things. 1t will
r make things worse. Every strike
Y like every other evil step, makes tn
d next one easier, broadens and per
Ie fects the path or channel an
e tends to set up a condition, in plac
n of chance or occasional incidents.
On the other hand, every time
n disaster is averted or postponed,
e makes the next threat less terrifyin
70 and less of a peril. 1t is like tn
le truce in Ireland, which is bringin
- both sides to "a realization of tn
10 blessings of tranquility as contrast
8 ed with the alarms and wastage o
" war. A little more peace, and re
n sumption of the murderous fightin
IS will be impossible.
s. Prevent this strike, through
A. calm appeal to arbitration-ther
4 must he just means of reaching
le lust agreement-and a great an
j. long stride will have been taken tC
ward the establishment of better an
as more reciprocal relations betwee