The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-01
RAILWAYS FACING
CLOSED SHOP PLOT.
SAYS ATTERBURY
Pennsylvania's Vice-Presi-
dent Asserts Soviet Opera
ton Menaces l. S.
SPREAD THEN PLANNED
Grip OH All Industry, With
Public Helpless, Said to
Be Unions Aim.
WARNS ROADS, MANAGERS
Civilization Seen in Peril With
Supergovernment Set Up
by Small Minority.
SPREAD THEN PLANNED
WARNS ROADS, MANAGERS

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
made public last night a statement
prepared by Gen. w. w. Atterbury,
vice-president In charge of operations.
in which the company's position on
the relationship between employer and
employee Is outlined. the open shop on
the railroads Is advocated, and the la
Dor unions are denounced as being en-
gagged in an attempt, through their In
sistence on national agreements and
national adjustment boards. to bring
about the naturalization of railroads
and unification of all properties.
II have no fight with organized la
bor," said Gen. Atterbury's statement,
so long as it does not bring about the
closed shop. advocate or practise SYM
pathetic strikes, act to limit produc-
ton or undermine discipline. I have
every desire to see its existence healthy
and normal Within reasonable limits
it is healthy spur to bring about
fair conditions as between employer
and employee. When. however, 1t at
tempts to nationalize. industry, and in
effect set up supergovernment, and
q small minority of the total popula-
ton attempts to coerce the whole, 1t
becomes a menace to our civilization.
! say in all solemnness that this Is
what is in progress at the present time
with the railroads."
The Pennsylvania statement was pre-
pared for submission to the National
Industrial Conference Board and is
comprehensive IN its treatment of the
present railroad labor situation. Gem
eral Attorbury deals In detail with the
va srious phases OF the labor situation
and reaches the conclusion that the one
big union, through the associated stand
ard recognized railroad labor organiza-
ton, composed of sixteen national or
gnnizations. with their spokesman an
officer of the American Federation of
Labor, is for the moment at least an
accomplished fact upon the railroads.
Outlines Plans of Labor Unions.
He declares that IL the union leaders
United States soon will find:
First-Tnat the railroad systems of
the country will be dominated by
the brotherhoods end the unions
affiliated with the American Fedora
ton OF Labor, with power not only
to enforce their demands by stop
ping the transportation of the coun-
try, but also through affiliaton
with the workers In other industry
to stop production In all essential
lines whenever they feel so ihclineh
second-That all discipline. with
the power to employ or discharge
men, will be lodged in national tri-
bunals likewise dominated by the
union organizations, with the man
agements. minus Authority, helpless
to change or improve conditions.
Third-That wages. hours and
working conditions of railway en-
ployes will be Uniform throughout
the country regardless of varying
conditions in the different localities.
the amount OF work performed by
different individuals or the relative
efficiency of that work.
Fourth--That thev pubic "hich
pays the bills. will be without voice
in determining most Of the aues-
t,ons at issue and without means OF
blocking the insidious plans of the
labor leaders for Soviet operation
Of the railroads under the Plumo
plan.
Gdneral Atterbury says that In deal
ing with organizations among It's en-
ployes the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
panJ has felt that the employees them
SELVES were tho best Judges OF the form
OF examinations into which they desired
TO ko Therefore. he says, there has
beeh no interference with their liberty
of choice In this matter.
1The company" he says. has always
refognized the right OF any man to labor
upon whatever terms he and his en-
plbyer may agree, whether nc belongs to
a labor organization or not. Employees
hsve always been given full opportunity
tJ redress their grievances whether as
siociated with labor organizations or
mot"