Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-20

The Western railroads and their EN-
ployes seem to have passed another
milestone in their path to peace accord.
ing to the press review of progress tl
date. Editors commend especially thu
Federal Board of Mediation for its part
in the matter, and there are suggestion.
that similar results might be attained
in the coal industry.
Again 1t has been demonstrated that
there is always a way to settle indus
trial disputes on basis fair to all con-
cerned." according to the New York
Evening Post, which says of the Law
under which the board acted: 1T was
framed in accordance with the wishes
coined a plan that would invest the
findings of mediators or arbitrator with
the force of judicial decisions, and the
failure of the machinery to function in
this instance would have had a most
unfortunate effect Since its passage
two years ago, this act has operated to
adjust several difficulties between rail-
roads and their employees. In some
cases mediation sufficed. In others ii
was necessary to resort to the more
elaborate plan of arbitration. But all
questions of wages and working condi-
tions were satisfactorily adjusted"
Congress ought to be impressed by
the success of its own creature, this
rail board" in the opinion of the Mil
Waukee Journal, land it ought to look
again upon the coal fields, where the
marks of violence still are plain, where
suffering and money loss still grip an
industry and its men and women. Con-
greSs should create another board to ar
bitrate future disputes in this major
industry of coal, certain that, what
ever arbitration cannot accomplish. it
yet can accomplish more than bombs.
guns, yellow paint, unfair court in
functions and unyielding bitterness"
4 X x i
1T is unfortunate that Congress has
not yet found way to cope with the
problem of the coal industry as effec-
lively as 1t has dealt with the trans
portation problem" is also the conclu-
sion of the Kalamazoo Gazette, as it
looks upon the Western situation. That
paper directs attention to the statement
OF Samuel E. WinSlow, chairman of the
Board of Mediation. that "a remark
able change has taken place in the
spirit OF labor's controversies" and
makes the comment: I'm its compare
lively brief period of existence the
railroad mediation plan has proven it's
OF reason, properly directed, to triumph
over the difficulties of conflicting view
points. There is no doubt that
the institution of which Mr.. Winslow
is the head has greatly reduced the
likelihood of deadlock sufficiently firm
TO cause general paralysis of the
Nations rail transportation system"
Mind has triumphed over matter"
declares the Dayton Daily News. with
recognition of the fact that 1.-The new
system for adjusting disputes between
the railroads and their employees seems
now to have met successfully the most
serious test to which it has been put"
The significance of the developments
appears to the Chattanooga Times to
mean that possible serious interrupt
ton OF transportation and heavy finan-
cial loss to the railroads, their work.
ers and the country generally have
been avoided, After the nation Wide
railroad strike of several years ago
nobody wants another affecting even
part of the country Moreover, an
other strike would undoubtedly indicate
rather poor industrial craftsmanship on
the part of somebody thinks the
Times.
Another victory for the new rail-
road labor law" is suggested by the
WilliamSport Sun. which feels that the
law has been getting real test in
this dispute" and the ST. Joseph News
Press also sees "a severe test" for this
law. "for obstacles in the way of an
were formidable indeed.
Eastern and Southern lines" continues
that paper. were able to grant pay
increases to their employees. but since
Ihe war the Western carriers have been