New-York tribune., 1921-04-16
Rail Shop1nleln
Accept End of
National Pacts
U. S. Labor Board Ruling
Hailed as Great Victory
for Workers by Council
Speaking for 100000
Other Leaders Disagree
Call 1t Steel Trusts Work;
Referees See New Code as
Way 10 Industrial Peace

CHICAGO, ApriGl5.--Abrogation' Of
the national agreements between the
railroads and their employees, an
nounced yesterday by the Railroad
Labor Board, was finally accepted to-
night by the executive council Of the
shop trades in astatemene which hailed
the decision as a great victory for
labor, declaring it did not impair
labor's economic or social status. About
soc, 900 men are employed in the shop
crafts.
During the day the railroads, through
the conference committee Of the Asso-
citation of Railway Executives and
through statements from the heads of
individual roads, approved the decision
as whole, Although criticizing cer-
tain features of it,
Gompers Assails 1t
The attitude of the shop trades
council, however, apparently was not
shared by all labor leaders. Samuel
>Gompers. president Of the American
Federation of Labor, in statement is
sued in New York. declared that the
big business" while others termed the
decision the "work of the steel -trust"
and criticized it severely.
The labor board itself expressed sat
isfaction over the fact that the deci-
sion apparently had met with some
approval from both sides, declaring
that this indicated that it had at least
opened the way to permanent indus
trial peace between railroad employees
and employers.
The decision of the board to permit
individual conferences between each
road and its employees, instead of
tional conference, was said by board
members to have been the only course
open to the board.
Open Shop Principle Upheld
"There is nothing in the law to au-
thorize the board to- set up a national
conference or national set of agree
ments," said member of the public
group. Every railroad has the inalien-
able right to negotiate with its own
employees if it so desires and every
American citizen has the right to make
his own terms with his employers, if
he so desires. Neither could be bound
by concerted action on either side,'
The board also let it become known
that while the set of sixteen prin-
ciples which the decision said should
be part OF any agreement was written
by Henry 7. Hunt, of the public
group, it had been approved by every
member of the board
The statement issued by the execu-
tive council of the shop trades was as
follows:
Railway employees can accept the
decision because II involves no impair.
ment of their economic or social
status. Indeed, to have this code pro-
mulgated by a governmental agency,
such as the United States Railroad La
Dor Board, means more to organized
labor than any code that has ever
been established in any industry. 1t
is a vindication of the fundamental
ed consistently and persstently and
its acceptance in good faith by rail-
road management will mean that the
public interest will be fully conserved
See Rebuke Administered
cone of the greatest sources of
qualification to US in the decision is
the rebuke to the minority group of
railroad executives, who have been
more interested in a misguided effort
to destroy the labor organizations of
employees than they have in securing
the cooperation Of railway workers and
in operating the railroad properties
intrusted to their supervision with
economy and success.
"We believe that the decision marks
new era in industrial freedom. We
have been and are now fighting for
human rights and the Fundamental
economic rights of railway employees
The Labor Board has more than vindi-
Gated our position.
"This decision Of the Labor Board
will not only have a very strong and
beneficial effect upon the transporta.
tion industry, but it will mark the be,
ginning of industrial law, so to speak
and of code of principles which will
be used as basis Of proceeding in al
our basic industries"
View of Executives
The statement issued by f.. T, Viii.
ter, chairman of sthe Association of
~ $ZAM ~<A 4