The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-22
WORD BATTLE
TAKES PLACE
IN RAIL CASE
W. W. Atterbury, Vice Presi-
dent of Pennsylvania, and
Frank P. Walsh Engage in
Verbal Sparring.
ARGUMENT WAKES HOT

CHICAGO, March c2.-Verbal spar.
ring between w. W. Atterbury. Penn
sylvania vice-presidert. and Frank P
walsh. labor union attorney. occupied
tuesdays session of the railroad labor
coard. Mr.. Atterbury time after time
pesan questions OF his own whenever
MI Walsh seemed to he attempting TO
corner him.
TO most of Mr.. Walsh's contentious
concerning business of working con
dltions he replied that That might be
true and could undoubtedly be settled
in negotiations between the individual
roads and their employees"
Taking into consideration the i'm
mense mileage of the roads and their
eight and one-half million employees,
wouldn't the fact that there have been
only ITS cases in dispute before this
board in year indicate quiet and
rest on the railroads." asked Mr
Walsh.
No, answered General Atterburv.
that only indicates, that the people
in Washington, making decisions, gave
the men every blessed thing they
asked for"
Says Up To Board.
After General Atterbury had said
that if classification of work were d.
manded by the men the matter would
have to go to the labor board. provid-
ed this plan of individual negotiation
failed. Mr.. Walsh asked why not
place the matter before the board in
the first pla ce?'
Because the board is too quiet not
to foment trouble said General Al
terbury. ''If the board starts in to
VII Et v-Yt11 L.
trouble waters but will be throwing
! rocks in the water.
Mr.. Walsh took up many railroad
| labor rules in what seemed to be an at
tempt to get General Atterbury TO a d.
nit that some basic rule or principal
; of the national agreements was just.
but the witness always countered
either by denying the rules business
or saying that "it might be put into
effect on the Pennsylvania by indi.
| vidual negotiation
| Mr.. Atterbury, under croSs-examina-
ton yesterday. saidWalker d. Hines
| former director general of the United
| States railway administration. had
failed in negotiations with employees
! because he wasn't good poker play
| er
| Mr.. Atterbury referred to threats of
strike that had confronted the director
general. One dealing with employees
| is in the position of a poker player
and should not take bluffs" too ser
| iously.
| Mr. Hines took the strike threat
too seriously" Mr. Atterbury said.
| You mean he was too innocent to
deal with the men," asked Frank P
Walsh. labor union attorney
well, he lacked experience, the wit
ness replied.
/ You mean he was the wrong man
for the job?" the attorney persisted.
We'll. l didn't appoint him." MI
Atterbury answered.
NO" said Mr.. Walsh. you had to
go somewhere else-you couldn't hold
all the jobs
Mr. Walsh referred to Mr. Atterbury
as ''an adverse witness to our conten-
ton" Many tilts marked both morn
| ing and afternoon sessions.
Mr. Atterbury from the outset in
dicated he was eirded for battle. To
some questions he made prompt. di-
rect responses: others provoked him
TO heated debate with his cross-ex-
aminer At times one could scarcely
tell which was the witness.
One of the clashes came over the
subject OF the eight hour day.
Railroad Hours ard the Lord.
| You are not in favor of the eight
Ihour day, even on the Pennsylvania,
are YOU MIR. Aterbury?" Mr. Walsh
asked.
No" replied the witness.
why not?'
! Because the Lord didn't build rail-
roads that way" was the quick and
heated answer.
That eight hour rule of yours Is a
perfect farce" he exclaimed, Your
rule provides that eight hours shall
constitute a day Why doesn't that
eight hours work constitute a day.
HnIn + eIIepEcTe nE