The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-25
WALSH EXPOSES CONCERTED DRIVE
 AGAINST LABOR
Tears Mask of Hypocrisy From So-Called Americanization
 Propaganda:

Washington, March 25-Addressing the transportation labor board as coun- Sel for the organized railroad employees Frank P. Walsh exposed the tactics be- ing employed by the railroads and other large employers to break down labor or ganizations. He tore the mask off the hypocrisy of the managers who have been saying that the concerted drive against established wage agreements is in the interest of efficient and economical management of the railroads. At the same time he sounded a warning that should, but probably will not, be needed by those who are riding a high-horse and are travelling to a bad spill. MT. Walsh said:
 Long before the last great war it was maxim that an army fights on its belly. 1 invite your thoughtful consid- eratlon as to how an army of the un- employed may fight on empty bellies"
 After reviewing what had been at tempted by railroad executives, Mr. Walsh continued:
 Further to aggravate the situation we have thA threatened debac1e in the great packing Industry. There 100000 men and women have been told that they must work longer hours for less wages in order that the industry may go for ward to the satisfaction of the overlords who control 1t. This means that all ground gained by these workers in years of struggling for their economic rights through the establishment of the living wage and the shorter Workday as funda- mental principles in industrial relations will be WreSted from them in a day or in an hour.
 Tt means that the packers are back ing up the railroad owners and the MOrgans and the Garys of the steel in dustry in concerted drive to break down all labor organizations and to turn back the clock that has registered all progress that has been made in the rela- tiOns between those who work and those who employ them.
 'Whatever tribunal Is interposed be- tween the parties in the controversy in the packing industry will be told by the packers that wages in that industry must be reduced because wages of railway workers are about to be reduced Then III the next great struggle of the shorter workday-and don't forget that that is one of the great issues of the steel in- dustry-they hope to be able to say that the eight-hour day is a failure and to offer as proof of that a return to longer hours i'll the packing industry. That IS the vicious circle of which labor com- plains That IS the way the plan has been set up, and that is the way it will be played through by the financial in- terests unless they are restrained by a wisdom which IS not theirs or power which IS greater than theirs.
 Labor is making the most brilliant fight ever waged by it. Faced with all most insuperable difficulties, the combined wealth of American industry and the 1act ~In1 command. the leaders are meeting every issue with calmness and courage that leaves no doubt of the outcome of the struggle.
 The most heartening aspect of this conflict IS the unbroken morale of the workers and their determination to see 1t through to the end Loss of employ rnent and the incidental privation and suffering but serve to increase that un- cOnquerabe spirit that is the essence of victory.
 If railroad managers imagined that after starving a few months the work CTS would accept any proposition offered to them, they are getting their disillusion- ment. In not single instance has any group of railroad workers hesitated a moment If COntemptuously spurning overtures that contemplated reduced wages or increased hours of labor. This must be most disquieting to the railroad executives. They are not accustomed to such independence from those Wohm they have been exploiting. It has not yet daWned upon their darkened intellects that the workers have had a great vision and are in no mood to brook return to fe1dalsm"
 MT. Walsh's solemn warning should not go unheeded. If the employers in this nation are as wise as they would have us believe, they will make an earn est effort to get the men back on their jobs at wages that will enable them to maintain themselves and families i'll de- cent comfort.