The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-19
Placing Responsibility.


things do not just happen in this. or any other
Country. Bump up against threatened railroad
strike, the people who face privaton and possibly,
m some cases, even worse are sure to take
counting and place the responsibility; usually they
u tonne very not being mistaken. s =
= In this measuring of responsibility, the Railroad
Labor Board cannot escape goodly share They
have not measured up; they have not reached;
they have had a great opportunity and have not
been equal its demand. After long drawn out
Investigations where both sides were allowed too
much liberty they reached decisions. Both sides
have de6ed them and refused to accept adopt
.their findings.
The managers and workers had abundant time
during the hearings to get stubborn and then
bitter. Each had made their decision before the
board announced its findings. The Pennsylvania
announced its independence" denied the laws
application the boards jurisdiction and declared
il would do it pleased Instead of being hailed
to court for contempt. as it were, there was
exhibition of explaining itself and then
granting rehearing.
The unions met the decision with strike vote.
The board made objection to this. The union
leaders not called upon for an explana-
ton nor notified that this was direct defiance
of the board Neither side impressed with
the fact that the board legally constituted
body authorized by Congress to do certain things;
findings, the law made these conclusive and pre-
sumed acceptance. Noncompliance much
defiance of the law as if the board had the power
to infict penalties.
Indeed, if the people of this country admit that
- the railroads and the unions are above all law
ssve~where penalties attached and if the rail-
roads and the unions take this attitude, then this
is not self-governng people. because not morally
able to govern themselves The Labor Board
- tie +haes n
for the fact that it cannot call upon sherifs and
militia, its DEGREES as binding those of any
other court. Instead of being made to feel this,
TO realize it and being brought up taut before
1.-THE penaizing court of public opinion, both law
-,dehers allowed to go ahead laying their
plans for a mutual and gigantic social war, with
the public as its victim.
The Labor Board was regarded long step
in advance in the regulation of the relations of
capital and labor. 1t was constituted to meet
and prevent exactly such situation it has
helped by hesitancy and lack Of effectiveness to
promote. 1t has wobbled where it should have
dominated. Even now. while it may have sug-
gested the best way out, it backs up this proposal
half-heartedly as suggestion and not an order
to lsw-defying organizations.
1t is evident now, or should be, that the law
itself needs material amendment The board con-
ssts of three independents, neutrals, who form
the real court With them SIT three railroad
ayers and three labor leaders who are in sense
Judges but special integveners in behalf of those
they represent They Interfere, unnecessarily pro-
long hearings their positions rather to impede
than further exact justice and to increase, rather
than remove misunderstanding. The board should
be wholly constituted of neutrals, of those who
have no connection whatever with the disputants
at interest, and of force and character to make
their decisions conclusive and accepted.
hath mt alta he'd tn h Tnfer
state Commerce Commission this board should
be directly attached some department, else
Immediately responsible to the President, instead
Of as now, responsible only to Congress. As it
is the President may consult and advise, he
not order He cannot tell the board what to do
or not to do. 1t is independent of his authority
and as fact is rather jealous of this independ-
ence and not amenable to direction, though in
the popular mind the President is held responsible
for their acts failures
The Herald does not believe there will be a
strike But this is because we have confidence
in the railroad unions They will not take the
responsibility for the consequences. They are
not heartless nor without conscience. They will
not cause the wreckage inevitable from strike
which would fail, but pull the house down with
them. They might chance destroying their own
organizations. but they viii not the distress,
destruction and economic devastation of which
Ire brunt would fall upon their own fellow work
Of all crafts and the farms and industries.
hey have reason excuse for strike
would in any sense appeal to the general
lie at all sufficient They the best-paid
in the world They this with the wage
rules decisions Of the board in effect. Their
e reduction has not nearly reached the level
the lowered cost of living. They have these
sst-paying jobs, when 100000 others are out
OF work They will not get much as hearing
in the public's court, if they strike and they
must know il.
But this does not excuse the Labor Board for
permitting such situation to. as it were, accu-
niulate. It's decisive action could have made il