The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-06-07
Director General McAdoo Points Out Dutv Of
Railway Employees While We Are at War

The Director General of Railroads
has issued the following statement:
The strike of certain shopmen,
machlnists, etc, in the railroad shops
at Alexandria, Va, has created very
painful impression on the public
mind. | cannot believe that these
men knew what they were doing
They are all employees now of the
United States Government. They are
not employees of any railroad cor
poration, therefore this was strike
against the government of the United
States. 1t is the first time in the his
| tory OF our government that any of
its employees have attempted strike
against their government. Such &C
ton is incredible. For the good OF
OUR beloved country and for the hon
or OF railroad me min the service ev-
eryWhere hope that there viii be no
repetition of what everyone must
lcondemn as unpatr,otic in the high
Ell degree.
Government Can Not be Coerced.
The Government can not, of course,
be coerced or intimidated by any of
its employees. 1t is anxious to do
justice to all and will do justice to
all as far as it is possible to measure
justice. Recognizing that there are
probable inequalities in the recon-
nendations of the Wage Commission
which should be impartially consider
ed and dealt with, l appointed in my
board of railroad wages and work
ing conditions composed of three
representative labor men and three
representative railroad men, whose
dnty it is to hear and to pass upon
all petitions and complaints. Every
class OF employees or parts of classes
of employees who feel that they have
just ground for complaint under the
wage decision should submit their
case promptly to this board and they
will be given just and impartial con-
sderation. The American people have
just been called upon to pay largely
increased freight and passenger rates
for the purpose of paying in part the
increased wages, amounting to more
than three hundred million dollars,
awarded to railroad employees.
What if Public Should Strike
Suppose they should strike against
the government because they do not
think they are fairly treated in being
forced to pay these increases for the
benefit of railroad labor, what would
happen to our country? Suppose that
railroad officers should strike because
they dislike the orders of the Gov
eminent and should refuse to obey
them, what would happen to them?
Suppose that railroad employees
should strike against the decisions of
their Government and hamper the
operation of the railroads at a time
when transportation is essential to
protect the hundreds of thousands of
American boys now fighting on the
battle fields of Europe to save the
lives and property and liberty of rail-
road employees serving here at home,
what would happen to our country?
The Kaiser would probably get it.
We can not all get exactly what we
want in this world, nor can we win
this war unless each and every citizen
is willing to submit to the laws of the
land and to the decisions of those in
authority.
Must Loyalty Support Government.
We railroad men particularly must
give answering and loyal support to
our Government, no matter what our
individual views and disappointments
may be, relying upon a fair hearing of
our complaints and the justice of our
cause and accepting periodically the
final decisions of those in authority
who, under Our laws, are charged
with the responsibility of making
them.
While in the German drive now
going on the sons of railroad men
and the sons of Americans of every
class are dying on the battle fields
of France to save America and demo-
cracy in the world, shall there be
found among us any man or set of
men who are unwilling to sacrifice
something of their personal views
and individual desires to support
Americas heroes, who are making
the supreme sacrifice for us?
Highest Duty of Patriots
Il earnestly hope that from one
end of this great land to the other
it may never be said again that any
railroad man, officer or employee,
was so unpatriotic as to strike
against his own Government when
it is in the midst of the most peril
Gus war of all history 1t is the high
est duty of patriotic men to remain
at their posts with the railroads,
where they are so urgently needed
for the safety of the country, and to
rely upon the board of railroad wages
and working conditions and the Di-
rector General for the just consider
alton of their claims. am sure that
l can count upon you to Immediately
Surge upon your men by wire the wis
dom and patriotism of the course /
have suggested.
w. G. McAdoo,
Director General of Railroads.