The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-04-22
THE RAILROAD STRIKES.
Common Interests of the Companies
and the Brotherhoods,

The leaders of the large labor broth.
erhoods have been put in a difficult
position by these developments. Their
organizations have contracts with the
various railways. The strikes which
have occurred being by members of
the organizations. are in direct viola.
ton OF these contracts. The railroad
companies can say that there is no
use in making contracts with organiza.
lions which cannot carry them out, and
to demand that the brotherhoods shall
help them fight and win the strikes
both as matter of good faith and
to show that it is worth while to make
contracts with them The brotherhoods
have strong incentive to fight the
strikes, not only in the fact that en-
danger their contract relations with
the railways, but also in the fact that
any success the strikers might have in
getting concessions from the RAILWAYS
which the brotherhoods have been I'M
able TO get, would tend to discredit
and disrupt the brotherhoods.
The railways cannot we'll negotiate
with the strikers, because the railways
have contracts with the brotherhoods.
and any recognition of the strikers by
them, through negotiations or other
wise, would promptly embroi them
with the brotherhoods. In the back
ground, also. are the demands for 81
000.000,000 in advances in wages, which
railway employees, as a whole. are max.
ing. Ii the wage demands of striking
employees of any particular class in
any part Of the country should be
granted il would at snce become neces
sary. on pain OF strikes elsewhere. to
make similar advances to all other
employees Of the same class throughout
the country. But there are well-rec-
ognized relationships between the
wages OF different classes Of railway
employees, and if. except under the
mandate of some authoritative BODY.
such as the railroad, labor board. an
advance in wages should be given to
one class OF employees throughout the
country, corresponding advances would
have TO be given at once to other
classes throughout the country or there
would be strikes by them. II is no ex
aggeration. therefore. to say that If.
in order to end the strike at Chicago.
for example, the railways should grant |
the advance in wages which are being |
demanded by the striking switchmen |
there, they would make q change in |
the adjustment Of wages which prob. |
ably would soon either force them to \
grant the entire billion dollar advance |
now being demanded without any hear
ngs before the railroad labor board or |
10 fight a general strike
The public certainly does not want
! billion dollar wage advance granted
without full hearings and an intelli
rent determination of The issues in
'olyed by IN impartial public authori-
Y. This would defeat the entire spir-
Q and purpose Of the labor provisions
4 the new railroad law. And the
'ub,ic certainly does not want a gen
raj railroad strike Therefore. a. we
AVE said. the public should back the
always and the brotherhoods to the
im;t Whatever NAV have been their
citations aud conduct in the past. what
yer may be their present motives.
9th the labor brotherhocds and the
ompanies are struggling TO get the
ra-e controversies now pending set
led peacefully and in accordance with Il
he requirements Of the law. The
trikers are trying 20 get what they f,
rant by force. regardless Of the merits
{ their demands. of the provisions Of !
NV and u the rights and welfare of !
he public. L j. vitality important 10 .
b. Puhlic peace and welfare that IN /
be first great controversy to arise BE-
ween the railway and their employees
.nre she resumption 81 priya.e owner :
hip here shall BE- 81 the precedent II o
settlement reached peacefully. intel. d
gent .y sud CO. thr manner prc-rribed Z
y law Railway Ayr