New-York tribune., 1911-09-17
R. R. MEMS BAD FAITH
British Managers Make Strong
Case Before Commission.
SECRET DOCUMENT QUOTED
EMPLOYEES Entered Into Under.
standing That Recognizing Of
Trade Unions Be Deferred.
(By Gable TO The Tribune. ]


London, Sept. 16.-The proceedings OF
the railway commission appointed by the
government to inquire into the differ.
sncea between the railway managements
and their employers have now reached
an interesting stage.
Sydney Buxton, president OF the Board
OF Trade, is watching closely the Pro-
ceedinss of the commission and the In
creasing signs of dissatisfaction among
the railway men. The managers OF the
lines are making out a strong case Tor
the companies since they have produced
evidence from a confidential document In
nossession of the Board OF Trade that
the Cancellation scheme was accepted
with the understanding that the CUES
tion of recognition Of the trade unions
should not be raised during the period
covered by the compromise. Yet re-
ncwal of the strikes is probable unless
the commission deals in practical way
with the burning question OK recogniuon.
The commission began this week the
hearing OF the non-unionists' SIDE Non
rn;onis,s constitute more than one-hak
~ the railroad workers In the United
Kin9dom. It did not take the nom
unionists long to submit their case as
tbev were satisfied with introducing the
testimony of half-dozen men from ths
,,ar,ous lines. chiefly long service en-
,,,oves all Of whom opposed the recogni-
tion Of the unions, which, they contend
od were dominated by extreme social
ists who kept up an agitation for the'r
own purposes.
These men. whose services extended
from ten TO twenty-five years, held that
the workers were more likely 10 Ha's
,heir grievances reriedied by appealing
.,ra,pht 10 the directors than through
the unions. The unions. they agreed
were useful so long as they were con-
troIled by the men, but in England TINS
condition no longer existed.
Railway officials who followed gave
their reasons for not wishing 10 recos'
nize the unions. Sir John Charles
Owens, general manager OF the Lohooh
g. South Western Railway. VINO was
largely responsible for the smooth trans
nor, and embarkation OF the troops dur
ing the South African War. VINO Is
member Of the War Railway 'ouhul
and whose road was the least anec'ea
during the recent strike, pointed OUT
that less than 10 per cent OF the en-
ployes OF the London & South "este'"
Railway belonged to a union anu oe'
clared that recognition of the UNIONS
would be followed by an attempt F"
compel all the men 10 join the unions
This he considered national danger az
n would mean an interference WIN 'ha'
discipline which made the British rah'
way the best in the world as resaTd'
safety and working" AS the railway
strike was, he said, strike against 'he
nation. Sir John proposed legislation 70
make striking a penal offence.
Another official asserted that VINE
the leaders could make strikes they were
powerless to stop them, as had been
proved in a number of instances In Eng
land. He argued that even recoGntoh
rad not prevented labor differences as
was shown in the case of the North
Eastern Railway, which, although II naa
recognized the unions, had more trouole
than the other lines in getting It's men
10 return TO work. 1t will take some
time vet TO hear all the evidence on be-
half of the company.