HIS NATIONAL SPIRIT
That Mr. Spencer was an exponent of this spirit was given national recognition in the responsibilities that have been thrust upon him, no greater example of which could be given than in his part in the recent rate bill agitation in the United States Congress. He was selected by the railroad systems of the country as their representative before the national body and was entrusted with the responsibilities of personally presenting their side of the question.
SAMUEL SPENCER
His ready appreciation of the influences necessary to bring to bear upon the present status of problems in which certain forces of the nation are retarded in their processes of solving has been seen in his personal alliance with movements or organizations standing for peace and arbitration and conciliatory measures.
He was an influential member of the National Civic Federation and his opinions were no more highly regarded by the president, August Belmont, than by the vice president, Samuel Gompers, the two men representing at present the two great conflicting national interests of capital and labor.
A recent incident, widely discussed at the time when Mr. Spencer’s ready appreciation and acceptance of justice, indicated his ability to assume great responsibilities, was when the National Civic Federation was agreed upon as the medium of arbitration in the machinists’ strike on the Southern Railway system in Knoxville.
Mr. Spencer, as president of the Southern Railway, and other officials of the road, including the vice president and general manager, met James O’Connell, the president of the International Association of Machinists, and the local officials of that organization concerned along the line. The federation was represented by the chairman of the conciliation committee, Hon. Seth Low; V. Everet Macy, a capitalist; Ralph M. Easley, chairman of the executive council, and Samuel B. Donnelly, one of the labor members representing the Typographical Union. This resulted in the settlement of the controversy through an agreement reached by both sides in conference.