The Republican journal., 1921-10-13
HISTORY WILL NOT REPEAT.

The railroads were taken over by the
government Dec 81, 1917. In a speech
delivered in the House of Representatives
about six weeks ago, Mr.. Blanton,
Democratic member from Texas, told his
colleagues why this was done. He said:
There was just one reason for taking
the roads over, and all of you know it,
The four great brotherhoods, with their
400, 900 active members, aided and abet-
ted by the American Federation of Labor
with its 100000 members, had threat
ened that unless they were granted GER
tain raises in salaries Immediately, they
would tie up every railroad in the United
States from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
SO tight that not one could rum Every
sensible man knew that such action
meant the starving to death in every big
city of several million helpless women
and little children, and it also meant dire
disaster to our soldiers who were fighting
in France for $33 month, and it furthur
meant victory for German arms. 1t
was proposed in the Senate and l pro-
posed 1t in the House. for US to pass
law prohibiting any set of men to con-
spi1e and combine to interfere with in
Ter state traffic and interstate mails during
the war, or to thus interfere with ship
ping on the seas or the mining of coal.
This was little bill not over two pages
IN length. and if we had had courage
enough to pass it we could have avoided
the aklng over of the railroads. But my
colleagues were afraid of what the broth
hoods and Mr.. GompeEs would DO to them
N the next election and could not face
the music. Thus, since the unions
forced Congress to take over the railroads
the government has given the railroad
employees over 100000, 900 in annual
increase in wages"
The Railroad Labor Board, a govern
TDent agency has ordered a general re-
ducton of II per cent on railroad wages
which does not seem to be unreasonable
when we consider the fact that the cost
Of living has decreased 16 per cent. But
by majority of more than four to one,
the individual members of the brother
hoods have voted in favor of walk out.
It is somewhat ominous fact that about
30 per cent of those who voted were in
favor of strike. Having once dictated
Serms to Congress and to the people of
she United States in 1917, the votes hows
that the rank and file of the brotherhoods
have at least hope that the operation can
be repeated. There are, however, great
many people who believe, and not with
reasons, that this cannot be done. There
are business reasons, unemployment. rea.
sons, moral reasons and humane reasons,
but the paramount reason is this:
There are, according to the census,
105, ,620 people in the United States.
The war with Germany is ended and
they are now ready to fight the enemies
of domestic peace and progress here at
home. They desire that fair price shall
be paid for an honest days work, but
they will not submit to be absolutely
ruled by radicals or by railroad brother
n GODS whose entire membership is less
tn an one per cent of the population of the
country.
Among the leaders of the brotherhoods
there are many practical and clear
visioned men. None of these men have
advised a walk out They know that a
general strike would cause so much suf-
Tering that, won or lost, it would destroy
the brotherhoods. When importuned tc
order strike they dared not take the
responsibility. They ducked and ordered
referendum. The votes have been
counted and already there is reaction
from the result. Even the radicals are
beginning to see the portents of failure.
The Ku KIuy Kl.n &c ,ox,, m A. e.