Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-19
LABOR LEADERS
ATTACK STAND
OF RAILROADS
Claim Executives Seek
Death of Union
Organizations
Declare Fight Against Nation
al Agreements Dominated
by Few Officials of Roads
Labor Offers Basic Program
of II Points to Renew Pacts

leaders delved into the records OF
t the Association of Railway Execu-
tives today before the railroad labor
board in an attempt to show that
the railroads fight against national
agreements was not unanimous blu,
was dominated by few officials &.
An underlying purpose to establish
the open shop and crush labor Or
+ CARNATIONS was declared to be be-
hind the fight of the association
against national boards of adjust
ment. The controversy over these
boards in the associations labor COM
mittee was brought out by cross.
/ examination of T. Dewitt Cuyler
chairman of the association and his
assistant, Robert S. Binkerd, and the
| introduction of voluminous cores.
pondence and reports of the COM
mission into the labor board record
! Today's proceedings marked the
beginning of labor's main fight for
! continuance of the antional rules
and working agreements now in eff
feet, the business and reasonable
ness of which the board is now try
ing to decide in hearings which be-
| gan January 10.
| A basic program of II points on
which labor would be willing to ne
/ gotiate national agreements was
laid before the board by 3. M. jew
ell, president of the Railway En-
! ployes department of the American
Federation Of Labor when the hear
! ing opened today. Frank p. Walsh,
! counsel for the unions, Immediately
! followed with an exhaustive cross
examination of Mr.. Binkerd and
! Mr.. Cuyler.
The associations labor committee
was the out growth of the transpor-
tation act, according to testimony of
Mr.. Binkerd, brought out in the cross
examination, and was designed to
deal with labor disputes. Records
| brought by Mr.. Binkerd were read to
show that a divided opinion concern
ing national boards of adjustments
had existed in the committee.
As a result of a bipartisan board
appointed at the suggestion of for
mer President Wilson in March 1920,
| the national boards of adjustment
created under federal control were
continued with the approval of a
majority of the labor committee, 1t
| was brought out.
| The majority report Of the labor
committee stated that it feared fall
ure to appoint boards as provided I'M
der the transportation act would re-
suit in overlooking the labor board
with disputes and added that If the
roads did not take advantage Of the
permissive features Of the law by
agreeing to adjustment boards, the
efficiency of the labor board might
/ be greatly impaired, resulting in de-
cisions possibly adverse to the roads.
The minority, headed by w. w. At
terbury, vice-president of the Penn
sflvania, however, presented three re-
ports at different times, which point
ed out that agreement to national adj
| justment boards meant dealing with
| the representatives organized labor
and declared the non-union man
would not have chance before such
a board. Such a recognition of the
unions, the export said, would lead to
a closed shop and concentration ot
| control by the unions. National
| boards, one Of the reports said meant
] national agreements and creation of
uniform handling of all labor mat
tiers, contrary to the minority's con-
| tention that each road should be al
ments.
The minrity report, it was shown,
was adopted by member voteof 60
! to Al.
| Attempts to draw from Mr.. Cuyler
| his connection with other business
interests brought the explanation
that he was not a practical railroad
man. although he was a director Of
four railroads, ten banks and other
corporations.
Publicity matter attacking national
agreements sent out under Mr.. Guy
ler's name was prepared by puplicists,
he said, but had his thorough concur
| renee and he declared emphaticalIy
that he was opposed to all national
agreements. He said that the asso-
ciatioh appropriated $4,000 a year
for publicity.
Mr.. Walsh clashed with his wit
ness several times and kept the big
crowd in such confusion that the
chairman several times threatened to
clear the room. Mr.. Cuyler however.
maintained his objections to national
agreements and blocked every effort
of the unions to show that strife ex-
listed in the association over that
question.
It was expected labor leaders said,
to draw out from the executives
placed on the stand an alleged divid-
ed stand on the national agreement
question. Carl r. Gray. president of
the Union Pacific and w. w. After
bury. were on hand. but their appeal
ance was postponed until tomorrow.