The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-06
BULLETS MAY AID
train SCHEDULE
Atterbury Says Rifles Would
Be Used in Strike Trouble
: if Necessary.
l" READY FOR ANYTHING y
Pennsylvania Official Thinks Nation
wide Tie-up Is No Longer
Possible.

Interesting testimony relative to the
treatment of employees by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad was given before the Fed
eral Commisson on Industrial Relations
yesterday by w. W. Atterbury. vice pres
Ident in charge of opera lions of the Penn
sylvania system. Mr.. Atterbury's testi-
mony was intended as a reply to charges
by labor leaders that the Pennsylvania
had attempted to crush the unions.
He said the company believed that in
the conduct of its business 1t should be
permitted to operate in consonance with
the open shop" principle The company
favored organization, but opposed any
unions that advocated or practiced such
punitive measures as the sympathetic
strike"
Unions Charges Taken Up.
Mr.. Atterbury took up specific charge.
brought against the Pennsylvania system
by II. B. Perham. president of the Order
of Railway Telegraphers. Mr.. Perham
charged that the Pennsylvania opposed
the organization of any of its men except
those engaged In train service. To this
charge Mr.. Atterbury replied:
Our policy is to prevent sympa-
thetic strikes that would be likely to
tie up our road. That is the position
Of the Federal government in the
transportation of the mails"
The second charge was that the
Pennsylva mia makes a practice of dis
charging employees who join labor
organizations.
"In a measure that is correct" saie
Mr.. Atterbury. TT We have knowl-
edge that an attempt is being made
to induce OF, employees to join a
union that practices things to which
we object. We take steps to avoid it"
Mr rht,r, tnd no
charge. that the company resorted to
false ARRESTS as means of crushing
out union movements.
To the charge that the Pennsylvania
had refused to mediate with it's teleg-
pliers. Mr. Atterbury replied that to
deal with this union as proposed
would have been in violation of the
policy Of the system not to treat with
organizations that favor sympa tnetic
strikes.
Mr.. Atterbury practically admitted the
charge that the Pennsylvania required its
employees to join the company relief as
ISOLATION:
Admits Police system.
He admitted that the system employed
police to protect its property and inter
ests. asserting that it was necessary to
maintain such a service in order TO as
Mr.. Atterbury said he favored Fen-
eral workmen's compensation act. and
any other measures fair to all concerned
that would uplift workmen.
Mr.. Atterbury took occas sion to say he
never expected to see another nation
wide railway strike. Under present con-
ditions. he said such a catastrophe was
practically impossible. He pointed out
that the brotherhoods of trainmen did
not favor sympathetic strikes. and that
such strikes could not be called on a
road other than the one involved in trou-
bles with its employees without the con-
sent of the men.
$50 you employ a private detective
staff?" asked Chairman Walsh of the
We have our police organization" re-
piled the witness. We have about 400
men employed in this work. Some of
them are uniformed. some are not This
department is well organized"
Are you at all times prepared for any
trouble that may arise?' asked Chair
man Walsh.
We are prepared for anything that the
other fellow may be getting ready to
do" was the respond.
Leave Nothing Undone
How many rifles have you on hand?"
y do not know that we have any,"
replied Mr.. Atterbury. We do not leave
anything undone to keep our trains rum
ming
HAZE you arms and ammunition on
hand?"
IF that was necessary, it probably
would be done" responded Mr.. Atterbury
Mr.. Atterbury remarked that it was the
junction of the States to give railways
'ull police protection. but that the States
had failed in this regard. The witness
;aid the ma jority of those who enter the |
service of the company continue in the |
service until they die or are pensioned.
W. IT. Pierce. of Harrisburg. Pa. an
organizer of the Federation of Railway |
Employees. followed Mr.. Atterbury. He |
aid that the Pennsylvania had the best |
organized police system employed by any |
ailway corporation in the United States. |
..Yau,ye cnt to hand II q them :, ha |