The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-02-17
Railway Labor Board Refuses
to Abrogate the National
Working Agreement.
IS WITHOUT JURISDICTION
Senate Committees Report Against
Naval Holiday and Suspension OF
Immisrstion-Germans Are Pre-
pairing Their counter-Pro-
posals on Reparations
sy EDWARD ~. PickAR0.

This wears first big labor hght, thht
between the railways and the rail-
workers, really opened last week "heh
the national railroad labor boaru LOON
VI the appeal Of the rail executives
for immediate abrogation oil the ma
tional working agreements. The hear
ing drew to Chicago the heavy guns
of both the executives and the ra'I-
way brotherhoods. The board decldeu
against the railways, which. however
have not abandoned the night.
As WIS foreseen, President wilson
declined to intervene, though asked 10
nv both sides, stating he would not
take any action which would inter
fere with the orderly procedure OF the
Interstate commerce commission OF
the railway labor board"
Frank L. Walsh, counsel for the rail-
unions, and Il. NJ. Jewell, head OF thelr
department of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, are leading the nSh'
of the brotherhoods. Their hrst ac-
ton was to question the jurisdiction
of the labor board in this matter, on
the ground that a question involving
the financial ability of the roads TO
pay is within the province of the IN
terstate commerce commission, the III
Dor board being limited by law to
questions of wages and working con-
ditions. This point the board decided
Was well taken.
Chairman Barlow said the board for
several months had been considering
the national working agreement, clause
nv clause. to determine whether any
parts were unreasonable, and he urged
that IL be mot further Interrupted
by the introduction of unwarran'ed
demands by either party
The second part OF the general arsu-
ment Of Mr.. Walsh as that the move
by the railroad executives Is part OF
a wall street conspiracy TO Kill the
power Of the unions, establish the open
shop, crush collective bargaining ana
reduce wages.
Twelve New York banks" said Mt
Walsh. Through interlocking dlrec-
torates, control 92 class roads, which
have 80 per cent of the class | mile
age and 10 per cent of the total rail-
road mileage of the United States. III
the hearings of the Lockwood commit
tee In New York the testimony re
yealed movement on the part oil
certain interests to crush unions and
establish the open shop IL Is oil
rected first al the two basic indus
tries of building construction anc
transportation
A great many persons not direct,
concerned In the present controversy
believe with MIR. Walsh that there Il
concerted movement TO establish th'
open shop, and, likewise. Il great many
persons are IN sympathy with sucl
movement. These persons see th'
impending conflict as fight not be
tween labor aud capital, but betweel
tyrannical labor unions and industry
Most Of them have suffered and arr
suffering from the intolerance OF bot
organized labor and organized capital
aud they are very tired of IL.
! What railroad men said was one o
the most far reaching decisions mad
by the labor board was handed dow
last week. the ruling being that II wa
the duty of the Boston and Main
railroad to confer with the committee
of the American Federation OF Labo
over the grievances Of its workers
Employees Said the decision uphel
the right of independent organization
, Of railway workers to present thel
, grievances Ia road officials. In Oh
Boston and Maine case II was said
conference WAS refused because thos