Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-05-31
Action of Certain Shop Work.
erS in Leaving Their Posts
Is Bitterly Denounced by
the Director General,
ACTION UNPATRIOTIC
IN HIGHEST DEGREE
Government Cannot Be Co.
creed or Intimidated by Any
of Its Employees; Intends to
Do Justice to All,
sr @ors,no JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wtseI

ieY @oRsiHc JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wtssI
Washington, May 30.-Railroad
employees were reminded by Director
General McAdoo tonight that they
are employees of the, United States in
time of war, and that a strike meas
a blow at their own government and
the hampering of transportation es-
sential to protect the hundreds of
thousands of American boys fighting
on the battle fields of Europe.
In a telegram to the heads of all
labor unions having shopmen among
,heir members, Mr. McAdoo gave no.
tice that the government cannot be
coerced or intimidated and called
upon railroad men to remain at their
duty and rely upon him and the new
board of railroad wage and working
conditions for just consideration of
their claims. He asked the union
leaders to urge upon their men by
wire the wisdom and patriotism of
this course,
? A few days ago several bnndred
machinists and shopmen at Alexan-
dria, Va, left their posts in Southern
srGilwSs shops in protest against s:'ldli
increases given them under the di-
rector generals new scale of higher
wages and there have been threats
of a general walkout of union shop
men unless substantial further pay
advances are forthcoming.
A Painful Impression.
"The strike of certain shopmen,
machinists, etc, in the railroad shops
at Alexandria, Va, has created a
painful impression" said the director
generals message. II cannot believe
that these men knew what they were
doing They are employees now of the
United States government, therefore
this was strike against the govern
ment of the United States.
at is the first time in the history
of our government that any of its
employees have attempted a strike.
Such action is incredible. For the
good of our beloved country and for
the honor of railroad men in tho
service everywhere, ! hope that there
will be no repetition of what every
one must condemn as unpatriotic in
the highest degree.
'The government cannot be coerced
or intimdatcd by any of its en-
ployes. 1t is the intention to do JUS
ticc to all and will do justice to all
rs far as it is possible to measure
justice Recognizing that there are
probable inequalities in the recon-
nenuatIons OF the wage commission
which should be impartially consider
ed and dealt with. | appointed in
my general order number 27, dated
May 25, a board o. railroad wages
and working conditions composed of
three representative labor men and
three representative railroad men
whose duty it is to hear and to pass
upon all petitions and complaints.
Employees Have Redress.
Every class of employees or parts
of classes OF employees who feel that
they have Just ground for complaint
under the wage decision should sub
nit their cases promptly to this
board and they will be given Just
and impartial consideration The
American people have just been call
ed upon to pay largely increased
freight and passenger rates for the
purpose of paying, in part, the in
creased wages amounting to more
than three hundred million dollars
awarded to railroad employees.
"Suppose they should strike
against the government because
they do not think they arc fairly
treated In being forced to pay
these increases for the benefit OF
railroad labor. what would hap
pen to our country?
Suppose that railroad officers
should strike because they dis
liked the orders of the govern
ment and should refuse to obey
them, what would happen to
them?
"Suppose that railroad em-
ployes should strike against the
decisions Of their government and
hamper the operation of the rail-
roads 1T a time when transpor-
tation is essential to protect the
hundreds of thousands of Ameri-
can boys now fighting ON the bat
tie fields of Europe to save the
lives and property and liberty of
,>]%SNe~e~-N-~~-~Y~-~~
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