The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-06
PENNSYL WANNA K. R. SAYS II IS FAIR ID
 ORGANIZED LABOR
Answers Charges Before the Industrial Commission. Why It Insists on "Open
 Shop Policy

Washington, May 5.-The Pennsylvania Railroad company, answering charges of unfairness to organized labor before the Federal industrial relations commission, today declared through it's vice president, W W Atterbury. that it did not oppose organization of it's employees. but did in sist on the "open shop principle and op- posed unions with affiliations which which might bring sympathetic strikes.
 we would welcome closer relations with our employees" said MT. Atterbury. If it could be brought about under proper auspices. We would more than welcome an organization of all Pennsyi- vania railroad employees among them- selves without entangling outside alli- snces."
 The objection of the Pennsylvania to the Order of Railway Photographers, which complained to the commission against the company, the witness said was that it would make the men respon- sible to the president of the union and not to the proper railroad officials.
 MT. Atterbury championed mediation as the best means of settling labor dis putes.
 Before MT Atterbury submitted the att titude of the Pennsylvania company, H. E. Perham president of the Order of Railway Photographers, who testified yes- terday. was questioned again by the commission as to complaints against the company.
 The attitude of the Pennsylvania com panv toward mediation and conciliaton, MT AtterDury said had been rather fa- vorable, although he thought the present act, while reasonably satisfactory. would have to be modified at some future time.
 We have 250,Oe0 employees to satisfy, said he, "and if this commission can help us in that work we will. be very grateful"
 Denying that the Pennsylvania road forbade organization, MT. Atterbury said the company imposed the same restric- tions upon it's men that the United States government imposed on railway mail clerks, that they shall not affiliate with organizations that might involve them in sympathetic strike
 We don't bother a union man. he declared. unless we have knowledge that he proposes to bother us.
 The Pennsylvania vice president sub mitted lengthy correspondence with the United States board of mediation in reply to the charge that Ille tOHlpdnN ndu re- fused to mediate difficulties with tht Order of Railway Telegraphers- He sait he did not believe the committee aetint for the telegraphers represented 'th' best clement among the Pennsylvania employees, or that the Erdman act coul' have any application to the situation eX isting at that time
 Regarding the charge that the com parv compels employees to contribute t and largely support a so-called volun tary relief association organized ant operated to intimdate employees MT Atterbnry said membership original! Was voluntary. but that now 1t might b IuprT was ever again railroad strike in thi country.
 Commissioner O'connell wanted [, know about the causes of industrial un rest
 There are two kinds of industrial un rest commercial and sociological" sait MT Atterbury. My own opinion is that sociological unrest is a good thing Ther. would be no progress without unrest"
 W. H. Pierce, an organizer of tho Brotherhood of Federated Railroad Elm. ployes, the next witness asserted thai conditions among the Pennsylvania shop. men never would be what they should be until the company extended to the men the right of organization as to em- ployes of the transportation service.