The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-02-22
COERCION MUST CEASE.

The strike of the railroad boherhood at Chicago diff
fers the train of similar gestures INDUCED by the leaders
# those organizations the last five years declares the Republican
Publicity Association Strike threats have been made coerce
the Railroad Administration the President Congress- and even the
wage advances willingly granted by Director General McAdoo prac
Labor Board assembled adjust the differences between the "
road executives and their employees The former strike threats
came when the country either exerng itself to furnish supplies
allies wage of its to recover from the eec
ef conflict With those abnormal industrial situations as full
crn brothehoods able the strike as lever 10
compel acqueence their demands Conditions still abnormal
nut a different Thousands of out of work. and the
strike much of its effectiveness when realized that
would difficult to find take the places OF all strikers
who chose to remain away from their duties,
Arrogance of the roerhoods beginning with the passage
the Adamson 1916 submitted to by Democratic President
and Democratic Congress- contributed materially to the gna
defeat that party last November The American people were tired
Of seeing their public officials bowling mek each demand
insignificant minority of their number Wilson consistent
course spn submission had been appavang i'll the extreme
In August the Adamson law nothing or less than
wage increase So indignant patriotic Democrat the
President pro Tempore the Senate the hOup OF Congress-
that he refused sign In March, 1917 the
entrance into the another strike threat TINS time De-
cause the delay the Supreme Court in rendering decision on
constutionay of the Adamson law 1t upheld by vote
of five to four the boherhood would have done had the
decision been otherwise only be conjectued In December
the year the broherhood submitted demands with hint
of strike if complied with Soon thereafter the roads were
taken by the Government and then followed long series OF
wage advanced willingly granted by Director General Mcdo ra
cay whenever by the employees August 1912 came
strike that tied everything the vicinity of Chicago and spread
over country and in April 1920 the nation treated to the
notorious outlaw strike ceneng in Chicago and seriously affect
ing entire transportation system
practically every of those strikes and threatened strikes
was enable employees of the roads to keep with the rising
cost living argument inherently false and without
sembance justice The United States had billions of dollars
war; and everybody had to sacrifice accordingly
plea brotherhood leaders for those schedules
is reprehensb today than when originally grant
ed Defation taking place all along the line The price of
cay every product falling and taking down with the rate of
that entered into its production The rail schedules
alone have suffered being protected by arbitrary and ar
National which the roads
themselves prohibited by law from brogang The Labor Board
will have the solid support of the community if orders the lower
ing of wage nornate when granted and almost the sole
remaining portion of industrial structure that has yielded
the forces of deaon."