Evening journal., 1921-04-16
SATURDAY, APRIL l6, 1921
VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE AND ALSO FOR RAILROAD
OPERATION SANITY

UN the big controversy that has ragged in this country
for many months relative TO the railroad wage ques
tion, the American public and the principle OF business
sanity m the operation Of railroads have substan-
tia victory by the order OF the United States Labor
Board sbrosatfng OF July next the national agree
ments as to working conditions.
That order opens the way for saving the American rail-
roads from bankruptcy and the public and the employees
Of such lines from incaiculable hardship.
As the New York Herald aptly puts H.
Sooner or later the hundreds OF millions OF dollars
paid out that not earned and charged to labor
that not performed must out OF the pocket Of the
public, which toots all the bins.
'And we say II will be ultimate victory because al
though this misuse OF he publics good money is now
acknowledged TO be scandalous, dangerous criminal
wrong II WILL under the order OF the Labor Board go
until many millions more have been thrown away.
In the meantime while the roads ought to getting
their expenditures well in hand that prohfbve tariff
rates might down. the freight charges must stand
While freight shipments ought to be stimulated they
continue be discouraged and suppressed While
production ought TO be freed OF the brakes that have been
clapped it. It must stay deadlocked
Not so much for the American railway system, except
instrumenalty Of national economic relief but for
general industry. business and employment the United
states Railroad Labor Board should have abrogaed i'm
mediaely the war administration agreements when the
matter first came up. It should restored the
rangemens existing before the calamity experiment OF
Government ownership. This would have enabled the
roads 10 get back rational operating basis long
1t would have enabled them to cut their expenses and
pave the way for ralc rate readiustments before the
traflc tsek slaughtered
Then having properly restored the roads TO position
where would be possible for them to economic and
Ieve the public OF OF its overpowerng freight bill
burden, the Labor Board could have provided for new
working agreements to be reached by road and its
organization as now decreed subject to review by the
board within given time
"Under prompt businesske, effective course like that
70 meet a national emergency the United States Railroad
Board instead OF standing its dignity while It
stood the country its head might with stroke have
put it up TO the roads to get action
but while numbering stage coach methods were fol-
lowed in a situation which demanded airplanc speed at
least the United States Railway Labor Board has arrived
late it is, with its decision to the country at
future date late as 1t also is.
The cost Of the previous delay has been colossal tn,
cost OF the delay st to be endured will be distressing
there will be IT, because The roads
know exactly when they begin to dig their way
out not only the carriers but industry and business tak
on face at And because the nation can reason
ably assume that when the Government decides tina
railway must give good return for the pay the!
get public interest is going to require that other mer
give good return for the pay they ge-because
short getting back to the American principle
honesty and fair deal and to the American ways
square work this beated stand OF the United States
Railroad Labor Board is a very important milestone in
postwar American history"
And that victory will benent the people OF Delaware
much in proportion. it will benefit the people Of
other States.