The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-30
CBy Charles M. Kelley

medium of the recognized standard
organizations Of railway employees
1t was prompted by the actions of
men who are responsible for the OPP
Grafton of railroads under the present
system.
The Chicago Daily News, one Of
the most powerful papers in the
country, recently published a survey
of the industrial situation and its
conclusions are everything but reas-
suring. They are epitomized in these
words:
"The industrial United States is a
cripple today. The shop, the factory,
the home, the comfort and welafre
of practically every man, woman and
child are threatened
The News said the trouble is due
to the railroads failure to move
freight. The railroads answer is the
announcement of the Pennsylvania
that it will lay off 10 per cent of
its employees. Is this stupidity or
criminality? The railroads today are
unable to meet the demands made
upon them, because they are under
manned and inefficiently operated
To decrease the operating forces is
to confound confusion and to add to
the burden of the nations woes. The
Pennsylvania seeks two objectives in
its present so-called retrenchment
policy. In consonance with a pro-
gram mapped out by large business
interests, systematic effort is be-
ing made to increase unemployment
and thereby, it is hoped, reduce the
worker to a state of abject servility.
In other words, it is deliberately
planned to undermine his morale and
destroy his independence. Then, the
Pennsylvania management is less in
terested in the operation Of its lines
than in the opeI Iation Of its specula-
tive enterprises. It's heart is in
Wall Street and its hands are in
the pockets of the public. 1t must
have its dividends, no matter how
mach the public must suffer in con-
sequence. 1t is going to reduce it's
force, thus further debilitating its
system and adding to the evils that
result from congestion and stagna-
ton of freight. When the railroads
were taken over by the government
they were hopelessly stumped with
their problems. They had depleted
equipment and maintenance accounts
in the interest of dividends and mere
shells of railroads remained. Under
the circumstances, the nations in
terests were imperilled, and it was
necessary for the government to in
terfere to save a critical situation.
Is Playing Old Game
In reducing operating forces, the
railroads are reverting to the ole
system of paying dividends at the eX-
pcnse of maintenance and operating
efficiency. The roads went back tC
private control in pretty fair shape
Many improvements had been made
the federal government having in.
vested more than billion dollars
in capital charges.
All this improvement is now to be
sacrificed, because of the Unsuitable
greed of railway arrangements anC
their supreme contempt for the wei
fare of the nation. Reduction OF
forces is little less than crime il
view of existing conditions.
The railroads are playing a rule
or ruin policy, and they are likely
to have their way in both directions
They are doing everything needfu
to make their workers dissatisfied
and resentful. w. G. Baird, presi.
dent of the Chicago and Alton, bit
terly assails the wage baord fol
granting an increase of wages tc
transportation workers. "They are
not entitled to a penny" he says.
Then comes the editor of the Rail
way Age, the organ of the rail
roads, with an interview declaring
that the mems wages have beer
advanced more than the increase III
cost of living would justify. This
in facae of the fact that the highest
paid conductor in the United Staes
after he gets the latest award will
be receiving only SO per cent more
than he got before the war, and
the wage board says the cost of
living has advanced at leaast 100 per
cent in that time.
Evidently the railroad presidents
are seeking trouble. That has been
their attitude since the roads were
turned back by the government. With
their dividends guaranteed, they ap-
parently do not care whether the
railroads run or not. For months
the executives of every railroad la
Dor organization, supported by the
overwhelmingly majority of the of
fices of the local labor organizat-
tions, has pleaded with his members
to be patient a little while longer
and to continue to work. But nei-
ther the men nor their leaders have
been encouraged by the railroad of
ficials. On the contrary, they have
been subjected to all kinds of an
nOyances. why in hell should we
worry" was the brutal response of
one railroad official when a leading
labor official pleaded with him to
do something to allay the unrest
and keep his own road running.
1t is time the people of the IN
iteded States were getting the facts.
Industrial disaster theratens and the
men responsible are the railroad ex-
ecutives. They have the equipment
to move freight, and they can Sc
cure efficient men to operate it if
they are treated decently The pub
lie must intervene if a disaster is
to be averted.
Trickery Or Thievery?
1t is charged by editorial writers
that the railroads are suspending
men before they have opportunity
to participate in the back pay award
of the transportation wage board.
Those who are not on the payrolls
August will not be entitled to
money which they heretofore have
earned, it is said, and will find them
selves out of work as well as out
of pocket.
This is more than trickery. 1t is
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