South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-25
B. OF R. T. CHIEF
TELLS STAND ON
AVERTED STRIKE
Letter, Written Six Days Be
fore Walkout Called Off,
Published.

Ted the publication Of letter writ
ten by him TO the general chairman
OF the Railroad Trainmen on one OF
the leading western railroads. indi-
eating his position on the railroad
strike recently ayerted.
The letter was written on oct. 4.
SIX DAYS before the strike was de-
clared Off IL read as follows.
Dear sir and Brother.
Those who were iu attendance
at the Chicago meeting last July.
II honest enough 10 tell the truth,
viii remember my pleading with
them not 90 take a strike vote on
the question OF the ~ per cent
reduction of July I but instead.
70 pass the strongest possible res
Olutlon against such reduction and
make IL clear in such resolution
that any further invasion upon our
rates or working conditions. would
mean a strike. None OF the ar
ganizauon's executives. however.
would accept that position. and
our own general chairmen had
been fed on raw meat. appar-
emily TO such an extent that moth
ing but the restoration of that 2
per cent reduction would satisfy
them.
Il could not make myself BE-
lieve then. and surely net at this
time. that railroad men could take
the position that they would not
accept any reduction whatever. al
though all other classes OF labor
were being required 20 accept one
or more reductions fully equal 10
the II per cent designated in the
Boards decision, No. 147.
You know I have been cursed
BY members of the Brotherhood
in the past because I would not
Join with the radicals and eat 'em
alive. but. instead. tried to fol-
low a conservative course. Be-
cause of such unjust treatment by
those I was attempting 10 help,
Or rather save. / concluded last
July (when failed TO get any COLI
sentative help from those at the
Chicago meeting of the five or
EanizatiOns) 10 change my policy
and pass the responsibility here
tofore used in connection with pro-
mitteemen-to do whatever such
committeeman desired. not i'm vio-
latiol of our Brotherhood's laws
Therefore. the general chairmen
IN my opinion. are entirely re-
sponsible for whatever result fol-
lows this proposed strike. It we
as an organization win and make
the u. s. Railroad Labor board
restore the II per cent reduction
defined in Decision No. az. the
credit is all theirs. II we lose. I
know in advance they will say. the
fault IL Bill Lees
II have no hesitancy IN saying that
IN my entire lifetime I have never
known Of more unanimous feeling
against US by the business and labor
world than now exists. and TO me it
IS the greatest sin ever committed
by so-called labor leaders to approve
or their membership committine
suicide. as I believe is bound to oc-
cur If the strike goes on as scheduled
although 20 dlsprOve it in the face
OF the action taken BY our member
ship and committees would mean
humiliation OF the leader. I'm so far
as his future with his organization
was concerned.
IT had hopsd that after % years
membership in the brotherhood ]
should never live to see the dav thai
the membership I represented would
become so insane Bs 90 demand the
right 10 commit sufcide-at a time
when more men are out of employ
ment and more men on short time
IN this country than ever befor,
known. The railroad companies
most certainly want the strike 10 g,
on, because they know it will likely
mean the end Of our organizations
They fully realize there are at leas
two. II not three, men for every iol
that viii be made vacant by IN,
strike and while 7 am sure vol
know that physically and financial,
i can afford 10 have the strike 81
on as well as. or better perhaps thai
any member employed on the rail
roads. IL Is most depressing to m
TO proceed as We are, with tn
knowledge that II some miracle /
not performed 20 stop the strike. W
can expect large percentage Of on
membership 20 become scabs an
the remainder, who participate il
the strike. 70 become tramps.
II know this lester will not ap
zeal 10 YOU, but I must get this on
OF my system, and I know of r.
other officer or member of tn
Brotherhood 10 whom l feel NOR
Jtrst1fied IN unfolding my honest be
lief than you. some day this state
ment may prove interesting and yO
may be asked regarding my posi-
ton and my honest belief as indi
Gated before the battle comm nced
hence this advance statement. OF
dinaThy / welcome a fight, with
railroad or with an individual bu
I do not relish letting the other fel
low pick the time and place. TO sa
nothing OF the arms that are TO b
used. and I have never i1 the pas
walked blindly into a trap such a
now set for all railroad labor on
ganizations. which. according {
present indications, only the trans
portation brOtheThoOds will be foo
fah enough 10 stumble iuto. NJ
best Information, gained at Chicag
YESTERDAY was that the other raj
road labor organizations would prof.
ably NOT join the transpOrtato
brotherhoods IN the controvers
and while I have not always approx
ed OF the action. taken by Ben Jew
ell and his bunch, / VIII certainl
take my hat on 20 them II
a time ike this they show sumciei
intelligence TO keep out Of q COZ
troversy desired by the railroads an
encouraged and financed by II
manufacturers associations OF tn
country.