Evening journal., 1920-12-22
STRIKE REMEDY
IS PROPOSED
Pennsylvania Railroad OF
hcials and Brotherhood
Men in Joint Meeting
DISCUSS PRESENT
WORKING CONDITIONS

ihALNhLLflilAt Dec. IA meet
Ing called by General W. W. Alter
bury, vlce-president IN charge OF op-
eratlons OF the Pennsylvania Rail
road, and attended by the vice-presl-
dents, general managers. general SUI
perintendents, superlntendcnts OF this
whole system-re representing the man
agement and The three hundred odd
Pennsylvania Railroad representatives
OF the NVn members OF the four
principal railroad hrOlhorhOOds. was
held In the Young Mems Christian
Association Building here yesterday.
The meeting was opened by General
Atterbury, who explained the pur-
pose Of the gathering. lie said.
"COincident with the return OF the
railroads 10 their owners on March
1, 10 had been decided that so far as
the Pennsylvania system was con-
cerned, decentralization. as far as
possible, would become effective, and
with this end In view the regional
system was adopted
70 has been clear TO me that The ox-
lstlng overlapping OF the schedules,
or contradictory schedules, on the d.
visions or In The regions, would. nee
cssarily, create a situation which the
men would themselves recognize and
would voluntarily organize them
selves 90 provide regional committees
TO correspond with our regional Or
ganlzation.
II have been willing TO await this
/ time, but our hands have been forced.
| ! feel, by the decision OF the Labor
Board that they have no jurisdiction
| In regard 10 boards OF adjustment
the boards OF adjustment can only be
formed by the voluntary act OF the
management and It's employees. THU
| explains why / have called this meet
Ing.
I'VE have heard great deal the
/ last few years Of collective bargain
ing one hardly knows what lhe
/ tneOrlst means by collective bargain
/ ing But II by collective bargain
ing YOU mean the employees and The
management sitting down 10 seriously
discuss working conditions, and 4
/ schedule results which Is mutually
| satisfactory. then we have had 'cOllec-
tive bargaining In force for at least
A. years.
'srhis meeting today IS IN coniln
uance OF that policy. Some $40 me.
are here representing approximately
| 81 900 men. or early 30 per cent O
AN our employees. You are The mel
In the train servlce-the most re-
sponsible: the most highly organ
lied, and, generally, the most highl!
paid.
In an these II years. although oc
casionally strikes have been threaten
ed. never once has a strike been called
We have always been able 20 com
pose our difficulties You ropresen
the Conservative In labor organi
cations. You neither practice nor ad
vOcaie the "clOsed shop nor IN
sympathetic strike; nor can. strik
OF your organization be called with
q out its being properly submitted
81 your membership by ballot
you do not Intentionally. throug
. your schedule. limit production q
. the combination OF day and mileage
. piece work. pure and simple.
"The railroad officers who are pres
, ont represent the Management Of
, property In which about - 600 10000
, is represented, approximately half q
, which is in bonds and the other ha
In stocks.
1.-THE bonds are largely owned b
d life insurance companies. savini
= banks and other financial institution
. In which a very large majority OF On
3 people OF the country are directly Z
/ lAANAANAAlN AnN'AiNN'As
1.-THE other half OF this great lnves
, ment-that Is, the stOck-is owned h
\ some 10000 stockholders. almost ha
/, OF whom are women.
Bear In mind that the policy OF n
= Pennsylvania management has new
, been 20 pay large returns 10 its stool
!. holders. The aim has been 10 assu
- 10 stockholders reasonable r tul
upon which they could depend. Flu
thermore, the Pennsylvania Riilros
has no waiered stock and the rccOr,
will show that over a period Of n ar
70 years 10 has paid regular dividend
90 its stockholders averaging APPROX
J mately 6 per cent.
1.-THE duty OF the management
thrce-fOld. They have "A direct dul
a 20 see that the capital already lnves
4 ed shall be given a fair return. Sur
G Is that duty is owed 10 those W.
+ have entrusted their money 10 oil
j. care. Further, n a fair return Is n
a earned, now capital for improv
$ menis. extensions and bettermen
!. cannot be obtained.
s 1.-THE successful solution OF q
i problems that are before you. II ca
ried 10 a logical conclusion. meal
J. that not only will there never be
e strike. but that II will never !
II necessary 20 take a strike vote on q
IT Pennsylvania system
T, seielsiei5iei5iSls5i ei5ie,eieieiel2i3,elei.