The heads of the Louisville and Nashville road were bitter opponents of everything done by the Government toward securing good treatment for their employees.

In February, 1908, they and various other railways announced that they intended to reduce the wages of their employees.

A general strike, with all the attendant disorder and trouble, was threatened in consequence.

I accordingly sent the following open letter to the Inter-State Commerce Commission: February 16, 1908.
"To the Inter-State Commerce Commission: "I am informed that a number of railroad companies have served notice of a proposed reduction of wages of their employees.

One of them, the Louisville and Nashville, in announcing the reduction, states that 'the drastic laws inimical to the interests of the railroads that have in the past year or two been enacted by Congress and the State Legislatures' are largely or chiefly responsible for the conditions requiring the reduction.
"Under such circumstances 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 Conciliation.
These reductions in wages may be warranted, or they may not.