The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1921-10-22
THE PROPOSED
RAILWAY STRIKE
SENTIMENT IN WASHINGTON AS
OBSERVED BY CONGRESSMAN
CHRISTOPHERsON.'

w foohih5tohJ W.T. HGs-l uS dl1 I'LL
portant topic in the national capital
today is that of the impending rail-
way strike and, while congress has
not as yet given the subject official
consideration, senators and repre-
sentatives have freely discussed the
matter in the corridors and to judge
from these statements one cannot fail
to realize that the contemplated
strike does not meet with the approx
al of the vast majority of the mem
bers from both houses, and has
aroused in these members a keen
sense of resentment. They recall
that when the transportation act
was in the making there was consid
erable sentiment for the insertion of
an antistrike clause in that act. Such
provision was trenuously objected
to by labor leaders, and it was rep
resented to the members that the
railway employees would at all times
be willing to submit their claims for
adjustment, voluntarily, to any legal
ly and justly constituted impartial
tribunal with authority to settle dis
putes over wages and working condi-
tions. Upon these representations
congress left out of that act the anti
strike clause, and left the submission
of these controversies to the volun-
tary act of the parties. fully believing
that railway labor organizations
would voluntarily submit disputes
and would abide by the decision OF
lawful tribunal.
The United States railway labor
board was constituted by that act,
and has full authority in controvers-
les relating to wages and working
conditions. Almost the first act OF
the hoard, after it was organized, was
to grant to the railway employees
very substantial increase in their
wages. These wages were in effect
until July 1st of this year when there
was a decrease of about IL per cent
by order of this railway labor board.
1t is on account of this decrease the
strike has been called for the 3Oth OF
this month. and members here, or
both house and senate, have been
free in their expressions to the ef-
feet that the railway employees, by so
doing. have utterly failed to live up
to their previous representations.
They accepted the increase given Dy
the labor board but now, in the very
| first reduction, which amounts TO on
| ly about one-half of the increase
granted, they decline to abide by the
decision of this board and call a
strike. In other words, 1t seems 10
the members of congress that the en-
ployes were willing to abide by the
decisions of the board so long as in
their favor but the moment the deci-
sion was adverse they disregard the
authority of the board and set up a
law onto themselves through the me-
dunn of the strike. This situation
does not appeal to the members OF
congress and 1t is evident from the
expressions heard about the capitol
today that railway employees, by this
step, have lost many friends and sup
porters of their cause in both bodies.
There are many who believe the
strike will not materialize; that II
will be called off before 1t finally be-
comes effectivel but, be that is II
may. it is evident from the sentiment
as expressed about the corridors OF
the capitol, that congress will mol
tolerate the tying up OF the trans
portation lines of the country Il
there is power and authority in the
government and in legislative enact
ments to prevent it. In fact, many
have stated that they are weary OF
this constant threat of a railway
strike and welcome the conflict 81
that the matter may be settled once
and for all, as to whether or not, the
railway systems of our country arr
to be operated without interruption
and disputes as~to wages and condi
tions of employment settled in a reg
ular and orderly manner, the same
as other Controversies in our. lane
are settled, or whether this import
ant industry shall be operated or tied
up at the will of the employees.
|