Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1908 — LABOR STRIKES AHEAD [ARTICLE]

LABOR STRIKES AHEAD

President Would Be Ready for Trouble He Bees Looming in the Future. WARNS THE INTERSTATE BOARD Aiks It to Collect the Facts of All Wage Disputes Wants the Public Correctly Informed of the Merits of Each CasePrompt Suppression of Disorders.

Serious Industrial disputes were Id the mind of President Roosevelt when he wrote a letter to the Interstate commerce commission which has been made public. He says that Information has reached him that on account of the enactment of drastic laws by the congress and by the various state legislatures It is regarded as necessary by railroad companies to reduce the pay of employes. He says during the course •f the letter; “It Is possible that the public may soon be confronted by serious Industrial disputes, and the law provides that In such case either party may demand the services of your chairman and of the commissioner of labor as a board of mediation and con dilation.

May or May Not Be Warranted.

“These reductions In wages may be Warranted, or they may not. As to this the public, which is a vitally interested party, can form no judgment without a more compete knowledge of Die essential facts and real merits of the case than It now has, or than It can possibly obtain from the special pleadings certain to be put forth by each side in case their dispute should bring about serious interruption to traffic. Public Should Know the Facts.

“If the reduction in wages is due to ■atnral causes, the loss of business being such that tbe burden should be. and Is. equitably distributed between Capitalist and wageworker, the public should know it. If it is caused by legislation the public and congress should know It, and if it is caused by misconduct in the past financial or other operations of any railroad, then everybody should know it. especially if the excuse of unfriendly legislation is advanced as a method of covering up past business misconduct by the railroad managers, or as a justification for failure to treat farlly the wage earning employes of the company.’