The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-03-17

TO EMPLOYEES: !,
Direct telegraph aduces from New York and Washington inform us
that train and engine service employees on some of the eastern railroad
systems will be called on strike at 6p m, Saturday, March 18th, unless 9th.
erwise ordered, and that later the strike is to spread to other lines until all
railroads are involved.
The determination Of the constiutonaity of the Adamson eighthour
law is now in the hands of the United States Supreme Court. This law
service employees, but this Strike order Indicates that these same r ra SEN
T. 52t' y NJ are y: n Rsi 1ogit tise fs gsS 9e ee f ( ssSisien record sa the ss su? Gsg ef court ps5
&c ~ agt to t saef ax employs pf al 1a BY the Adamson1 law and have been do
amount 50 due will be paid in a lump sum to all employees affected if the
court decides that the Adamson law entities them to receive it.
Therefore to what extent are your earnings under Adarnson law jeo-
pardized by any further postponement of a decision from the United
States Supreme Court? Not at all. If the law is declared unconstitutional,
the Ya7oo & Mississippi Valley Railroad stand back Of the fair PROPOSE
ton presented by the National Conference Committee of Managers that
we vnds will i: join fa2m with af + our Ad employees ;si in "a asking dsteg;d the fa ni $ appointed
settlement to be effective, January LIST, 1917.
Therefore, in the event Of the law being declared either constitutional
1917, Of any settlement reached l"' Could a my GrRsb be- mo %% f January Is not nt
this disposition Of the controversy more satisfactory and safe than a re-
Never in the history of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads has
the management seen a clearer cut demonstration of the intelligence and
loyalty OF its employees than during the winter just closing-a winter
fraught with unusual operating difficulties, which were met and overcome
toa nextenttha tit can be said the property was never more efficiently op-
Grated. The public has been generous in atteNing to the fine quality Of our
personnel and service.
In expressing the appreciation of the management for this result, /
must needs testify to the intelligence and loyalty of the EMPLOYEES which
have made it possible Contemplating these characteristics of our employees
lcannot believe that they can be lacking the foresight to see that the pub
n Ic VIII Be- EN-. intolera If! Ct radical action at this particular junction in our ma
tonal affairs. loo long has the nation adhered to the principle of dipnif-
ed diplomacy IN deanng with foreign difficulties to be in sympathy with
an abandonment OF that method Of settling a domestic dispute To the
VIII OF the public we must all eventually bow. Certainly the LOYALTY Of the
Yazoo q mississippi Valley employees S testimonial to the amicahle rela-
tons Which have existed between them and the management throuoh All
these years of digni6ed and diplomatic dealings.
The spirit OF the times Is not such as to justify the abandonment If .
course that calm Judgment indicates will foster the comforts and cartain-
ties Of present relations and employ nent. All we ask is that your decIn-
ION be such thatit will not cause you future regrets and that It be not unbe-
coming the intelligence and patriotism of a Yazoo & Mississippi VALLEY
man and Of a citizen of our common country, ""N' -"
9. i. MARKHAM, PRESIDENT.