Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-07

AkAANtA AANN -
back at work keeping the lines Of
transportation open so that the wheels
lof industry may continue to tur and
the thousands Of fellow laborers who
lare not directly concerned in the rail-
lroad dispute and who have families
TO support may continue at work.
But Perth Amboy IS one OF the few
places that is suffering the most in
this regard. Mr.. Clark, in his letter,
drove straight at the point. Hundreds
of men here not connected with the
railroads at all are forced into idleness
land wives and children are made to
suffer unnecessarily because Of the in
liability of the various industries to get
raw material to work with or to ship
out the finished product. local mer-
Ichants find their business falling off,
bank deposits decrease and the city is
given a black eye generally when there
is really nothing to be gained. 1t Is
particularly hard to have Perth Am
boy hit in this manner when business
in most of the other places where the
strike first had its effect is almost back
TO normal.
II there was anything to be gained
as a result of all this sacrifice it would
be a different matter. Perth Amboy is
a laboring mans town and the labor
ing men know how to stand by n
another. When a great principle is
involved there is almost no limit to
what a union manor his family.
either. for that matter-will do to help
his fellow u~nionist. 1t IS this feeling
of brotherhood that has given organ
lied labor the influence It yields to-
day.
But organized labor is loyal to the
government. 1t realizes that none of
us can have everything we want when
we want 1t. That organized labor has
made wonderful strides in recent
years. especially under the Wilson ad-
ministration, is freely admitted. The
employees, with the Adamson
in mind. have perhaps been the
greatest benefleiaries. Therefore when
the government provides for q railroad
labor board made up of representa-
tives of the railroads. the employees
and the public generally, the loyal
union mar is willing to give this board
a chance. The main object was 10 set
this board at work. As long as it was
not even appointed there was not
much chance for action. The strike
got the board named and 1t is now
busy.
Naturally, the railroad companies
are not going to make any adjustment
of the wage schedule on their
account while this government board
has the question under consideration.
To do so would put the railroad
officials in contempt. Especially are
the railroads under Obligation to abide
by the governments decision because
of the fact that the government is at
present backing the railroads in the
guaranteeing of railroad dividends
until such time as the railroads, under
private control can get on their feet.
nee more.
Realizing all this. what is to be
gained by continuing tho strike, or va
cation as some choose TO call it, bring
ing ruin and distress throughout the
city? The wage question cannot be
settled until the railroad labor board
renders its decision and that decision
will not be rendered any quicker,
neither will 1t be any different,
whether the 800 or more railroad men
in Perth Amboy remain idle or not.
1t is not necessary for the railroad
strikers to hold a parade and a mass
meeting to convince the public that
they deserve moro money. That point
is conceded. as Mr.. Clark says, and
there is every reason to believe hat
the railroad labor board is going to
grant them q substantial increase. We
hope 1t will. But even at the present
wage there is hardly any railroad en-
ploye receiving as little pay as the
postal employe of the government.
Letter carriers, railway mail clerks,
post office clerks-all receive but a
mere p~ittance compared with the
needs of the average man who has to
| support a family these days. And the
postal employee has no labor board
considering his case and about to
grant him a substantial increase.
either. Yet the postman remains at
work serving the public, always
hoping that some day he will receive
some sort of recognition.
1t would seem. then. for the sake OF
the hundreds OF men thrown out OF
work through the shutting down OF
! factories and for the sake of the city
generally, these 800 or more railroad
men would return to their jobs. as
thousands of their fellow workers
have done. and allow normal on
ditlons to be restored here While the