Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-18

of its own, through sections, local COM
mittees or otherwise, fluids it impossible
to settle controversy, the board shall
then sit as board of arbitration, de-
eide The controversy and make an award
if it can reach a unanimous conclu-
sion. If it cannot do this, then it shall
select an umpire, as provided, who shall
sit with the board, review the issues
and render his award
"In view of this required procedure,
1 think we are entitled to state the
facts, which are that the Taft-Walsh
plan has been referred to as the de-
cision of the board, was retired by the
board under the above procedure by
five votes. Following this failure Of un-
animous action, there was no appoint
ment of an umpire, and, therefore, un-
der the prescribed procedure of the
board itself, no decision.
"We desire to be perfectly fair with
you, sir, as we have been with the
board. We are not favorable to shar-
ing the responsibility of conducting a
great public service with the peculiar
features of the telegraph, which the ex-
igencies Of the war have increased many
fold, with members of an outside or
ganization whose interests are personal,
rather than public.
"Under the plan of Mr.. Walsh, con-
Cured in by Mr.. Taft, an outside union
which has for many years been frank
ly hostile to the company, would, under
the pretext of a war emergency, waive
its rights to strike during the war, but
carry on propaganda for the purpose
of enlisting sufficient of the company's
employees for no possible result that it
could attain during the war, but onIy
that it might furnish the nucleus for the
disorganization Of our service through
demoralized discipline and the use of
the strike Immediately after the ext
gencies Of the war had ceased and re.
leased it from its promises. As indica-
tive of the character and temper of this
union, permit me to quote the follow
ing words from an official circular is
sued by it calling a meeting in Chicago
for June 8:
Come armed if you deem it neces-
sary.'
81 need not remind you, sir, that the
primary obligations Of telegraph SER
vice are to provide continuity and com
petence and that we desire to protect
these essentials not only during this
emergency, but at all times. To this end
there are, it seems to us, two plans of
procedure. One, compulsory arbitration
which, as we recall, you urged on con-
gress at the time the great railway
strike was imminent. The other is found
in the suggestion of our employees that
they form their own union or organiza-
tion on the theory that the normal re-
lationship between employer and EN-
ploye is that Of peace and mutual CO.
operation in the adjustment of their re-
lations and not that of strife and that
a spirit of hostility and efforts of war
fare are not necessary for industrial
progress or the adjustment Of mutual
relations.
"Now that our employees have deter
mined upon their own association, am
sure they would be glad to have the
advice and counsel of the national war
board in the formation of their or
ganization to the end that it may be
representative Of the employees inter
ests as well as free from any influence
that might limit its effectiveness in
dealing with the rights and privileges
of the employees. Nothing that can be
accomplished by the Walsh-Taft plant
Is not accomplished by the employees as
sociation, but there is this important
distinction-tha unionism established
under conditions Of coercion and hostil-
ity is not the same thing as the right
to bargain collectively, a right which