" And
this conviction has grown apace with the years until it stands
today as the most potent check to aggression by either trade
unions or capital.
While yielding to the wage findings of the board, P.H. Morrissey
vigorously dissented from the principle of the supremacy of
public interest in these matters. He made clear his position in
an able minority report: "I wish to emphasize my dissent from
that recommendation of the board which in its effect virtually
means compulsory arbitration for the railroads and their
employees. Regardless of any probable constitutional prohibition
which might operate against its being adopted, it is wholly
impracticable. The progress towards the settlement of disputes
between the railways and their employees without recourse to
industrial warfare has been marked. There is nothing under
present conditions to prevent its continuance. We will never be
perfect, but even so, it will be immeasurably better than it will
be under conditions such as the board proposes."
The significance of these words was brought out four years later
when the united railway brotherhoods made their famous coup in
Congress. For the time being, however, the public with its usual
self-assurance thought the railway employee question was solved,
though the findings were for one year only.*
* The award dated back to May 1, 1912, and was valid only one
year from that date.
Daniel Willard speaking for the railroads, said: "My acceptance
of the award as a whole does not signify my approval of all the
findings in detail.
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