Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-04
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 4, 1922.
Whcrc Rests tho Blamc?

sTT will be we'll for Richmond to look the
}tace--and then to place the responsibility.
The facts are not pleasant ones, and while
there is good reason for hope that the Nir-
gnia Railway and Power Company and its
employees, in the conference arranged for
next week, will be able to compose their
Sdincrences--for they always have worked IN
harmony and now there is no desire on the
part of either except TO arrive at a practical
solution which will enable each to exist,
even TO live with at least measure of COM
lfert-any agreement will be merely
bridging over OF the difficulty pending the
8rcmoval OF the basic trouble.
"a The present situation is not n comfortable
cne, for the company, for its employees or
FOR the Richmond public. In its inability
flo increase its revenues the transportation
company contends that it must either de-
crease its operating expense or accept in
evtable bankruptcy. That Is the position OF
tthe company, and one who has watched
the trend of transportation affairs in other
! cities will question that it has been cor
'rectly stated
But. on tho other hand, the street car
9employes must i've. If they accept the cuts
kproposcd, existence for them will become
fprecarious. Never highly paid, even at the
2peak OF wartime wages, they now face the
Eafternatves OF a strike and accepting a scale
(Which means for manX. Of them the mainte-
hance OF themselves and their dependents
pa wage which will not permit decent
standard of living at present prices for
necessities. And decent standard of living
Every honest American has a right to de-
( mand.
=. There is the situation-the existence OF
the street car company set over against the
existence OF lis employees situation made
neither by the company nor by the men.
In next weeks conference if the spirit of
friendly cooperation which heretofore has
existed between them continues, and The
Tmes-Dispatch believes it will. compro
mise will be effected. Perhaps the company
VIII yield bit from the rigor OF its wage
reductions; perhaps the men, recognizing the
fcompanys dire financial stress. will WELD :,
gbit from their present scale of wages in
order to save the company from the fate of
"a receivership and themselves from the ter
Srors of unemployment Perhaps each will
stake friendly step toward the other for
ahe sake of Richmond and TO hold lis trans
Eportaiion system from disntcgration pond
sang permanent stabilization of a situation
(which must come from the city itself. Anv
gDther outcome OF the negotiations would be
slittle short Of catastrophe Richmond
has seen other cities in the throes OF trans
sportation difficulties; it has seen the ijtney
solution tried in Des Moines and elsewhere
always without SUCCESS, and 1t has no heart
for the forcing of similar experime,,
here
racing this situation, with its distinct
even If remote, danger of an Industrial ont
break in the beginning of year which
shonld find all hands pulling together. Rich
mond now places the responsibility. T, 6oes
not rest at the door OF the transportation
company. It's predicament has been forced
upon IT. Nor does it lie at the door OF tho
employees. All they are asking is the right
70 work at wages that will permit them
selves and their families TO live comfortably
That mich they must have. They arc NOT
ntsposed TO listen TO radicals. or to take snan.
Judgment against tho company In whose ser
gira hundreds OF them have been for many
faars. They are, and will continue to be.