The Great Railroad Strike by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

The Great Railroad Strike

By Editor

BEFORE this paper reaches its readers, the United States may be involved in the greatest railroad strike of history. Indeed, it is barely possible that this number of the REVIEW will be greatly delayed in reaching its subscribers. At least such will be the case if the plans under contemplation at this time, August 31, are fully carried out.

Last week we mentioned something of what was involved in this great industrial conflict. Four great brotherhoods, so-called, representing the various employees of the railroads, have demanded an eight-hour day with excess pro rata pay for all overtime. The railroads claim that with their present margin of profit it would be suicidal to grant this demand.

President Wilson, feeling that the economic and physical needs of the entire country demand it, invited the leaders of both sides of the controversy to Washington for a conference, and he and his Cabinet have labored unremittingly to bring about a basis of agreement. At this time his efforts have been entirely unsuccessful, and a strike has been ordered for September 4. President Wilson has presented the situation to Congress, and has urged that immediate legislation be enacted to meet the present situation and avert the calamity threatened.

The railroads are placing an embargo on freight. Thousands of vacationists are hurrying to their homes, and many towns throughout the country are seeking as far as possible to conserve their food supplies. Many mills and factories purpose to close down as soon as the strike begins, inasmuch as they will have no means of disposing of their output. Thousands of men will thus be thrown out of employment. It is feared that the strike will result not alone in great injury to business generally, but that it will cause much physical suffering as well.

This is truly an alarming situation; and even if means are found whereby the present crisis may be passed, it is but a warning of the troubles which may be expected in the future as the conflict deepens between capital and labor. How literally do we see the predictions of the fifth chapter of James being fulfilled at the present time, and we shall see still more striking fulfillments in the future as the industrial war between capital and labor becomes more bitter.

We should be prompt to take advantage of such occurrences to place before our friends and neighbors the meaning of the events which are taking place around us. Attention should be called to the prophecies which hundreds of years ago foretold these very things. The book "Capital and Labor," which may be secured from all our tract societies, deals with the prophecy of the apostle James referred to. At this juncture we know of no better literature for circulation than this little volume. It is written by Elder E. T. Russell, who for years has given very careful study to this prophecy and its fulfilment. It may be had in paper and board bindings for twenty-five and seventy-five cents.

Let us be ready to take advantage of every occasion to sound aloud the warning message, but in doing this let us be careful not to become partisan in the controversy. Our mission is to men of every class—the employer and the employed, the capitalist and the laborer. God loves them all, and we should seek so to present the gospel of Christ that it will win and not repel.