South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-19
4 RALLRAY STRIKE.

That strike on all the railroads OF tho country is
more than a possibility IS brought home each day
n the news dispatches.
Just what strike on the transportation systems
Of the nation az this time might mean staggers even
the imagination.
Transportation. depending in turn upon coal Is
one OF the very basic conditions OF not only industry
but OF living.
II must be remembered that nearly So percent Of
the coal miners OF the idle on strike
against the conditions Imposed upon them by their
employers.
There IS not a city In America that could live
week without railway trains
There IS not an industry in the country That could
outlast a month II barred from the distribution Of
ito product or the bringing in Of materials.
A railway strike would mean hunger stagna-
ton OF all business the stopping OF all industries
In short It would chaos and a return to
savagery.
such a strike OF unthinkable and It is
more than unthinkable that such important mat
ter should be the occasion OF little official action
or foresight.
The plea OF the railway workers. that their wage
cuts are unfair and far below any reduction in the
cost OF living. The decision OF the board which
made these cuts IS that the cost OF living for all
workers is unreasonably high through the cost Of
transportation and that this cost can only be re-
duced through savings OF wages.
Is
with the worker and ending with the worker
II might be remembered by the workers Of the
nation that they do not work employers but for
each other
There IS a solidarity of interest on the Fart Of
labor for in the last analysis is labor that the
great consumer and who is first hurt and first hit
by any change in labor conditions
The men who run these trains working for
the printer. the plumber the mechanic and the
Of tbesa
in order to do his share in the great scheme of
industry
When strike IS called, It hits not only those who
draw dividends from railway stocks but every man
no matter what his job his condition in life. 1t
viii be strike strike against all labor
and against all industry.
This particular threat from the official
action Of a government body on which labor is
represented.
That board has three men representing the public.
three representing the and three represent
ing the workers.
The orders for reductions had the sanction OF the
members representing the owners, was expected
but they also had the unanimous approval of the
three members who named to represent the
public.
Under the present scheme Of industry there could
seem to be no fairer way OF adjusting the or
revenues from industry than government board.
Under government ownership. which is the only
alternative private operation, the matter would
finally reach this stage.
When the three members who represent the gen.
eral public agree on a schedule it might to be
Just and necessary.
In the absence Of any accusation that these public
members were Influenced wrongly biased oy
rentiments against the worker their decision will
be accepted fair by the public.
II they are not fair the remedy OF the workers
IN those industries which are nationalized the
extent OF control by government lies in strikes
which hit all fellow workers but in a change in the
appointing power which names such boards