Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1946-01-24

CN6eT w COHtTUUE6 1OS 70 TH tuCh
For beneath the cloudy skies
VIII COME dn answer to oar cries
AS the bosses of both sides pCiH
compromise.
(Tune of Tramp, Tramp, Tramp')
VtHE ABOVE PARODY on the
old war song of the Civil War
brings out the one hopeful and
inspiring thought regarding the
strike epidemic. 1t is that in
the long run the
The interests of the
Strike public ultimately
Epidemic comes to the sur
face. Pressure
on both sides in the various con-
troversies will force them to get
together on common ground.
When we look back on these
: troublous days of early 1916 the
best we can hope for is that it
will be recorded as the period
preceding the greatest era of
prosperity this great nation has
ever experienced. 1t is not that
/ am at all happy over the cur
rent setback to our reconversion.
It is not that / am enthusiastic
about the possible outcome. My
hopefuiness springs from a nat
ural desire to see labor get a
deal which will make it possible
for them and their families to
become the potent force for pros
perity they should be and for the
general business
Issues Of the country
faulty to get on a foot
Drawn ing which will
make it possible
for us to carry on the nations
great normal expenditures while
st the same time making a dent
toward reduction Of the national
debt.
The issues between big bust
ness and big labor unions today
are becoming faulty drawn. The
question of higher pay is, of
course, the underlying factor.
But beneath the pay question lie
other problems which are OBJ
structing final compromise of
pay schedules. Two of the
issues at stake are: first, whether
labor officials have the right to
examine books and records of
management and, second, how to
make labor unions responsible
for carrying out contracts and
making public financial state
ments. Other issues involved
include the possible rejec-
ton on the part Of both labor
and management of the principle
Of Government
Public debating settle
Interest ments of dis
Paramount putes t he by
eliminating real
collective bargaining and the
struggle of management to get
away from the suggestion that
big increases in pay can be
given without corresponding in
creases in selling prices. 1t is
foolish to even think that the
few cents per hour separating
the two sides in more than one
controversy is the only obstruc-
ton to agreement. The factors
s forth above and perhaps sew
q 81 deeper ones which the pub
Lc knows little or nothing about
will keep the strikes going until
the public becomes SO tired of
the sacrifices involved that pub
lie opinion will force a solution.
We should, however, keep in
mind that the public interest is
always paramount and that
Government, whether it be local,
state or national should be
directed always toward this end.
There is a point beyond which
the public interest alone is in
volved. And when it comes to
the Withholding or denial of
telephone service, or gas service,
or railroad service and any other
public or quasi-public service
which involve great public incon-
venience our democratic form Of
government has the right and
the obligation to see to it that
these services are not inter-
rupted.