Arizona republican., 1921-02-24
RAILROAD UNIONS.
 AT TACK PAYMEN IF GOvERNNE NJ. FUNDS II ROADS.
IRepublican A. p. Leased wirel

l.
 CHICAGO, Feb 23.-A protest against the Winslow Townsend bill which would allow the government to make partial payments to railways of money due under the guarantee given during federal control, was telegraphed President Wilson today by B. NJ. Jewell, president of the railway em- ployes' department of the American Federation of Labor. The bill now awaits the presidents signature.
 The message charged that the roads under a threat of complete break down of the transportation industry are undertaking Ito levy a tribute of hundreds of millions of dollars on the treasury of the United States and adds: We insist that the railroad owners shall not be permitted to enjoy the financial benefits of the transpor- tation act and of this proposed amend ment until they have demonstrated their willingness to guarantee human rights to their workers
 "A million and half railroad work CTS protest against the Winslow- Town 1 send bill" read the message. The sor- did selfishness and sinister purpose of those who control the railroads have been revealed in the proceedings before the railroad board. in the public ut l terances of the railroad executives and in their demands on the government. Charge Roads Violating Law 1 They evade or refuse to comply with the labor provisions of the trans portation act. They deny the workers | the fundamental industrial right of collective bargaining. They seek to destroy trade unionism. We have ! through orderly procedure of the rail- road labor board requested a confer ence with railway executives to meet with the employes to create adjust ment boards as provided by law ard to settle matters iIi dispute as to rules in national agreements of which the rail- roads complain.
 But the executives have declined to meet us in general conference. They kope to disintegrate our organizations by limiting the right of collective bar gaining>to an unfair and unequal basfs l Hoping to secure a return to the un just and unreasonable working condi- tions which prevailed before the war I they wish to pit the consolidated power of their compact national or ganization against the employees of 3 single craft on single railroad
 Il Tn pursuing this course the ex- ecutives are clearly violating tho transportation act, which aimed tc prevent interruption of traffic by pro. Itecting just and reasona ble condition.
 through the provision for conference.
 As we have clearly demnstrated be,
 fore the railroad labor board the un. iderlying principle followed by the mer 4 who framed the transportation act wa.
 that only by guaranteeing collectiv, ! bargaining through the recognized or ganizations of the employees coulC
 those just and reasonable conditions
 be assured.
 Attacks Employees Sole Provision
 Tn attacking this principle the rail
 roads are attacking labor's one basi ] guarantee under the act. At the sam , time, through the Winslow- Townsen,
 bill, the seek to force the country |,
 a hasty settlement of one of the man, guarantees to management
 Under the threat of a complet breakdown of the transportation in
 dustry they undertake to levy trib
 ute of hundreds of millions of dollar
 on the treasury of the United States We accepted the transportation ac
 under protest but are en endeavoring to comply with it in d
 good faith and honesty We hay
 asked nothing that is not clearly writ ten in the law. We believe in equxlit before the law and we insist that tn
 railroad owners shall not be permitte
 to enjoy the financial benefits of tn law and of this amendment unles
 and until they have demonstrated thei
 willingness to obey those provision Wnlcn are intended to guarantee In
 human rights of the workers. It is ou
 belief that the financial oligarch ' which controls the railroads is in il } present. policy a menace to our eco
 homie structure and to our politics I institutions and we submit that 1t q lintolerable that the interests and wei I fare of all the people should be jeop ardized in order that a favored fe' | may get exactly what they want o 2 their own termS.''
 The message of B. NJ. Jewell, presi q dent of the railway employees depart : ment of the American Federation ' Labor requesting a presidential vet II of the Winslow bill was received tc y night. It will be brought to Preside1 :. Wilson's attention tomorrow, it wa U said.
 n The Winslow bill reached the Whi 5 House today and was sent to the il u terstate commerce commission for ', report.
 if if The treasury department also wi
 be asked for advice.
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