The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-09-27
THE THREATENED RAILROAD STRIKE

n Associated Press dispatch from Chicago published IN Monday
II Herald, said that y Bsjonty OF the $4,000 members Of the
brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmep had voted to strike rather
,san accept su the recent wage cut ordered By ths United States Labor
as confirming this decision. Mr.. Murdoch wss quoted as having said.
Our past experience has been that 80 per cent of the men will
That statement is subject TO several possible interpretations,
of the men are always ready for a contest II that should be the
right Interpretation, then the leadership Of the railroad unions has
per- cent Of the msn are ready to follow their leaders into a strike.
lfthat Is the correct Interpretation the leadership of the brotherhoods
~arItis difficult to unaerstand how either railroad union leadership
or any considerable number of the ss per cent Of members who this
leader IS quoted as saying will always vote for q strike can look
for any supporting public sentiment 10 back a strike under existing
conditions Il is difficult to believe that any considerable number Of
the thousands Of weH-inforsned, clear thinking men who man the
ra,lroad system Of tins country do expect any supporting public sen'i
The railroads have accepted enormous losses and a majority
Of them are stl losing money, while betterments wait ON better times
and hgh freight rates act as a brake on prosperity. One need look
no further than our own town, with its great ~alroad shop plant
standing practically idle 10 realize what the situation is; for the pie
ture Of the Albuquerque railroad plant is typical of the railroad plants
throughout the nation Railroad management trudges in a dreary
unwilling TO invest in securities of doubtful earning power, wage
'sales and working conditions that forbid earnings and high freight
rates that tend 20 block business.
Every business that is served by the railroads, from the farms
and village stores 10 the factories and mines have taken losses and
are still taking losses il incomes. The whole far.lung business fabric
Is heaying up and down in the effort to absorb these income losses
and adjust itself 70 the new conditions
adjustment all along the line as they undoubtedly would by such a
strike as IS being considered, they would be working not only against
The general welfare but also against their own real welfare. Tenn
iustry at a Observation-Disclosures which must eventually hi the
nifn-"aee arner q hafu IS any other.
Railroad workers are not 10 be blamed for the conditions that
BOW depess business and delay It's restoration to normal activity.
Neither ~ railroad management to be blamed. The public is not
greatly interested in fixing the blame. II is vitality interested in over
coming the conditions. United action TO overcome the conditions is
what the public needs and waits and is demanding. The public is
without sympathy for the stand Of the Pennsylvania railroad in
defying the orders of the u. 5. Labor Board, no matter how efficient
rs system Of handling relations with its employees may be. The
public win be equally without sympathy with a defiance of the
boards orders from the great body Of railroad workers, carried 10
The point of a strike that would double an already staggering I'M
employment overnight and strike back into complete paralysis busi.
ncss aud industry that Is just beginning TO struggle 70 it's knees.
The people Of tins country are crying out for peace. orderly
processes Of REIMBURSEMENT, y chance TO breathe and work and move
toward again. II is more than a sentiment, it is a necessity aud il
ail not stand silent and inactive long ia the face of any force that
is needless Of is demands.