The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-04-21
THE TWELVE BASIC POINTS.

Twelve basic points have been submitted by the five railroad
brothehoods President Harding with request for conference
committee consider thcm composed OF representatives OF e 'a
riers and the empoyeethe public not invited These twelve
onts are declared by their be fundamental and ire
ducble they be regarded at the outset there remains
little for the conference to do but to accept or reject he F
ducbles hardly subjects of arbitration or compromise
Point the fright organize and negotiate collect
lively through representatives of their choosing 1t familiar
as being the of abor demands in the 1919 conference me
Republican Publicity Association then declared "ageeahe'S
have the right today bargain collectively they WISH hey also
hive the right to bargain Individually Forced bargaining
through labor union maintenance OF berty- Is the de-
ction of liberty Forced subsection to the mandates OF walk
ing delegate berty is erfdom Forced membership IN
Union prerequisite to employment is not berty-t the re-
verse The preamble the twelve points refers to the principles
declared for by forefater in 16 How long would e! nave
tolerated labor oigarchy?
declares for the protection of employees against DIS
elimination because Of membership trade unions or because
legitimate trade activities How about protecting employ
and the public from transportation paralysis ana %
from physical violence?
Points three four deal with the rights of the majority IN each
craft railroad select their representatives in negotiations
and grievances All right and let the crafts determine policies and
actions and elect representatives by Secret ballot
Points five six and deal with the eghthou day. over
time payment and Encouragement shifts and appear susceptible
of agreement Point eight calls for ear and concise defamation IN
each craft Of the work TO be performed The other day
two wormn refused from the tracks broken axle which
menaced under the rule job for three men,
While they gone for the third the foreman alone removed IT,
Do the brotherhoods approve of that principle!
Point nine declares for the establishment of apprenticeship re-
qremen and Point requires that applicants for employment
show their four apprenticeship or equivalent
be denied employment for any other than their IN
abto perform work for which they making application
This looks like plan monze all operatives since apprentices
will undoubtedly be unonzed and thus gradually dlspace those
workmen affiliate Point eleven asks recognition
craft seniority and Point twelve demands protection OF health and
safety and is commendable
The foregoing not said spirit of hostility to labor or its
right organize Honest and patriotic labor entitled to as much
more favorable consideration from the Government than any
other element of society What desired emphasize that i'll
presenting claims organized labor and not
by agreed that the unions should not be Disseminated
against but it is insisted that membership of working man in
should voluntary and compulsory and that the great
principles eedom-th liberty of the individual the protection
Of private property the ncy of the public service and the rule
Of the majority in free ballot must be preserved