Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-03
ADDITIONAL ILLS
Of UNION RULES
CITED BY RAILS
Affect Smaller Classes
of Employees, Carriers
Chief Declares.
Workers Rebuttal State
ment Reveal open
Shop" Move of Banks.

Chicago, Feb. 2.-Objections to rules
governing numerous smaller classes of
employees were laid before the railroad
labor board Wednesday in detail by E.
T. Whittier, chairman of the carriers
committee Mr.. Whittier is nearing the
close of four weeks stretch OF testi-
mony.
The railroad testimony will be inter-
rupted long enough. probably Thursday,
however, to permit a rebuttal state
ment by the employees to the declara-
ton of Brig. Gen. w. W. Atterbury,
representing the American Association
of Railway Executives, made last Mon
day.
Make Vigorous Denial.
The employees will make vigorous
protest against General Atterbury's re-
quests for immediate abrogation of the
national agreements covering working
conditions
B. NJ. Jewell, president of the rail-
way employees department of the
American Federation of Labor. has
been closeted with labor leaders the
last three days preparing his reply to
the Atterbury request.
public another telegram to President
Wilson. signed by himself and six heads
Of rail workers organizations. The
message was in reply to a telegram
sent the president by representative
of the railway executives in answer to
the original message forwarded by the
employees protesting against the pro-
posed abrogation of the national agree
ments. Wednesday nights message
read in part as foll6ws:
COnfents If Massa0a
eve have read in the press a copy of
a telegram which the railway ex-
ecutives are reported to have address,
ed to you in reply to our recent mes
sage. The charge is made in this
telegram that our original object in
calling your attention to the astound-
ing action of Mr.. Atterbury last Mon
day before the railroad labor board
was conceived as Plumb Plan league
The statement is false
and is put forward to deceive the
public.
THE claim is made that the rail-
way worker, who is already the chief
sufferer from the depression in the
industry and whom Mr..
considers least able to de-
fend himself. is to have his distress
es further exploited in order that rail
road services may conserved and rail-
way financies maintained unimpalred.
Such an attitude is not only repug-
nant to the most elementary consider
ations of human welfare, but is directly
at variance with the actual decisions
Of all courts and arbitration tribunals.
an exception they have held.
MS you know, that the financial con-
aitions of a corporation should not
have any bearing upon the determine
tion of reasonable wages of working
conditions
Violates All Precedents.
"In addition to thus violating all pre-
and striking at the very ex-
stence of the labor board itself. MIR.
action, we believe, has
leeper significance We are convinc-
I'd that he wished to take advantage
If the temporary unemployment and
he unfortunate economic condition OF
he railroad workers, which the rail-
.oads have intensified, to crush our
abor organizations and to deprive us
# our fundamental rights and gnaran-
.ees. all Of which are reasonable.
The telegram went on to say that
the workers would show:
That there was no economic JUST
Fication for wage reduction or the ab-
rogation Of fundamental rights en-
bodied in working rules.
THAT statements that the interest
# farmers and shippers are dependent
Upon reduction in wages are unsound
ind that a reduction in the general
,ost Of living is not dependent upon q
in railway wages.
Exposes Bankers Hand.
THAT the railroads are controlled by |
In inner group of New York banking |
houses and that the so-called open |
shop movement, or the attempt to de- |
stroy our union seems to be directly |
with the railroads of which |
he banking house Of Morgan 4 Co.,
Ire the fiscal agents.
In closing. the message stated that: |
If the public expects us to maintain |
he spirit and the letter of the law |
md to rely upon the judicial settle |
nent Of differences in an orderly way. |
We must be protected from the ill-ad-
Used and misguided efforts Of Mr.. At
erbury and his associates who are
'iolating the procedure established BY
aw and because Of an absurd and inn
possible obceesion for destroying rail-
vay labor organisations are resorting
Q methods which are indefensible and
opposed to the public welfare"