The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-06-13

transportation Ace) has created
situation by virtue Of which even its
promoters and advocates now freely
acknowledge that absolute failure
and collapse predicted by labor in the
very beginning.
The report says that the decisions
OF the railroad labor board in wage
cases "have betoken no progressive
thought" and ii characterizes as "a
deliberate backward step" the abro-
cation by the board of the national
wage agreements
Rail Board Failure
"The railroad labor board" the re-
port continues, has made voluntary
agreement a relic of history The
maximum demands are presented in
preliminary meetings, with the board
as court of appeal always in the
background. Thus, questions of
wages. working conditions and hours,
become matters for litigation instead
Of negotiation Neither party is sat
isfed as is abundantly evident On
ly a minor fraction of the cases pre-
sented has been decided The break
down is complete
The report goes on to say that it is
necessary to look to the future for
the development of a sound construc-
tive program under which the rat on
may be assured of competent. fair
and economical operation and control
of the railroads with labOr's right to
exercise its normal activities and
freedom safeguarded"
Regarding wages and the cost OF
living is a violation of the whole
philosophy In progress and civiliza-
tion and, furthermore. Is a VOCATION
of sound economic theory and utterly
without logic or scientific support
The practice, it is added. results
in tendency TO classify human be-
ings and to standardize classes each
class have a presumptiye right to a
given quantity of various commodi-
ties"
The Council declares that proiiteer-
ing in food continues
Exclude the Jap
Regarding Japanese exclusion, the
Council has this to say.
The citizens OF California are
justified in viewing with alarm and
apprehension the results of the Jap
anese invasion in that state The
Japanese colonize together and have
gradually driven out American citiz-
ems from the most fertile farm lands
in the state They undersell the
American farmer because of their
low standard of living.
THE 'gentlemen's agreement with
Japan has proven to be failure be-
cause the Japans in a cunning and
stealthy manner, have outwtted the
intent of the law This peril is not
only a serious condition for Califor-
MIA, but it is positive menace to
our entire nation. The American
Federation of Labor is fully justified
in taking a firm stand to do away
with the 'gentemen's agreement and
in its place inaugurate a definite po-
licy calling for total exclusion of Jap
anese with all other Orientals. We
should also go on record as fayoring
any legislation of the character that
may be presented in C\}ress by the
California delegation in the senate
and, house of representatives..
Explaining its recommendation that
the federation endorse a constitution
al amendment to make valid under
the constitution measures enacted by
Congress, the council says the power
exercised by the federal courts "to
pass upon the consttutonality Of
laws enacted by Congress and ap-
proved by the president is one of the
greatest menaces to measures intend
ed to remedy evils in our govern
ment"
'The Constitution of the United
States, the council asserts, does
not give such authority to the courts.
1t has been assumed by them. The
history of the supreme court of the
United States is replete with reaction
AIRY opinions.