The evening world., 1917-03-20
ROADS AND UNIONS
|. DIFFER ON COURTS
RULING ON STRIKES
Railway Heads Hold Decision
Means Congress Can Avert
Tie-Ups.
.CHEF LEE is lRRlTATED.
Declares Neither Congress Nor
the Supreme Court Can Make
a Man Work.

Railroad presidents and managers.
after eons,altation with counsel, have
come to the conclusion that the decI-
sion Of the supreme Court upholding
the Adamson eight-hour law has vlr-
tuslly insured the country against any
widespread railroad strike in the
future.
The leaders OF the railroad unions,
while not admitting that this assump-
tion IL justified by the decision, do
not hesitate to say that they are wor-
ried about the language OF the deci-
SION which classes them aS public
servants"
The union heads take the position
that there is no power in govern
ment. or elsewhere, which can force
a man 10 work against his will; that
the right to strike against intoler-
able conditions Is an inherent con-
stitutional right which cannot he
abridged by the Congress or the
supreme Court
On the other hand. the railroad
presidents and lawyers set UP that
the Supreme Court has held that.
II the railroads and their employees
cannot get together on a question
OF hours or wages, II devolves upon
the government 20 uphold the public
rights" to avert strike or tie up.
So. In the future. in dispute between
unions and the railroads the dispute
can be thrown into Congress by the
stubborn refusal OF one side TO treat
with the other.
w. g. Leo, spokesman of the chiefs
OF tho Big -Four orotherhoods. Is
firmly OF the belief that the Supreme
Court decision does not abridgo the
right OF the unions TO strike. but
he admits that the Supreme Courts
Endorsement OF the right of Congress
10 regulate wages is distasteful to
the railway unions.
NOT oATH. BOUND PUBLIC SER.
WANTS, SAYS LEE.
"Under thhs decision" said Mr. Lee.
Congress apparently has the power
to regulate wages-and We can't gs
behind the decision. Now, IL the Con-
1t may delegate that power to the In
terstate Commerce Commission, or
some other body. or commission, The
unions do not 'Tslish the prospect of
referring their wmge demands to any
government commission.
AS long as railroads are pri-
vate enterprises we consider our.
selves workmen with the right to
negotiate with our employers.
Admitting that we are public ser.
wants, we are not oath bound
public servants, such as soldiers,
sailors or letter carriers, for in
stance.
I'VE didn't want tho Adamson Law
in the first place. Now. that we have
II. we do not consider that We have
suddenly boen shifted from the posi-
tions OF citizens possessing the right
to organize for tho promotion OF our
private rights TO the position OF pub
lie servants compelled to take what
ever is handed us. l do not think
! the Supreme Court intended to coma
vey such an Interpretation OF the
A0amson Law"
The railroad understanding OF the
Supreme Court decision was given
out to-day by an official who acted
as spokesman for the Committee of
Railroad Managers. He said;
THE chief thing that the country
has gained out of this decision Is that
It establishes beyond doubt that the
Government, through Congress. has
full power TO prevent railroad strikes.
The opinion. as read by Chief Justice
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