New-York tribune., 1921-03-15
Roads iolate Ld,U by
Cutting Pay, Says Lee
Holds Men Justified in Utiliz-
ing Erery Resource to Com
bat 4 n air Reductions

CLEVELAND, March 14.-W. G. Lee,
president of the Brotherhood of Rail
road Trainmen, issued statement to-
day attacking the railroads in their
proposals to reduce wages. He said
that such cuts, without conforming to
the provisions Of the Cummins -Esch
law, should convince the American
people of the insincerity Of the roads
in their profession of respect and
obedience to the law He declared that
II the roads insist upon violation of
the law the employees would be fully
Justified in using every resource to
combat the reductions.
President Lees statement follows:
"The announcement by the railways
Of ordered and proposed wage reduc-
ticns without conforming to the pro-
visions of the Cummins- Esch law
should convince the American public
Of the insincerity Of the railroads in
their professions Of respect for and
the same outlaw position that was de-
nounced as illegal by every authority
in the United States, including the
Federal Labor Board, when the switch
mems strike Of last year occurred.
Denies ApprcciabIc Price Fall
"There should now be no difference
oi PuDliN opinion on inc applIcatlOn
Of th2' same ruling b. The Labor Board
and, further, the railways should be
denied os lne Interstate Commerce
Commission every rate benefit and ad-
vantage afforded them by the law until
they are ready and willing to comply
with its labor provisions. The rail
roads are not contending for reduced
Vrices of materials, taxes and other
expenses necessary to operation, but
presume to load every dollar Of un-
earned costs on the shoulders of their
employees, who have not as yet re-
ceived any appreciable advantages in
reductions in the bulk of their living
costs, and without regard to Section
307, Paragraph D, Of the labor pro-
visions of the Cumm -Esch law.
"It is neither fair nor wise to at
tempt to take from employees any
thing that rightfully belongs TO them.
Their present wages and service rules
belong to them until they are taken
from them by the same careful investi-
CATION and legal processes that sane
toned the award of the labor board
July 20, 1920.
"The railroads. naturally, like every
other business, feel the results of de-
preston. However, they should as
sumo their own deficiencies with the
same readiness that they assumed
their profits when transportation con-
dltions were better, and when they
did not share their financial ad-
vantages with the men until forced by
the government to do SO.
Would Arouse Public
The American public should nder-
stand the railroad situation thorough
y. 1t directly affects every nhatitant
of this country 1t is an unwarranted
proposition to tear down and DESTROY
American standards of work, wages
and living for the benefit of the rall-
roads without regard to tho welCave
OF the nation and 100000 employees
VINO ask only for an equal enforcement
of the law.
at is direct attack against Ameri-
cen standards of living, against the
American home and against the vel
tare of American citizenship. II thu
labor sections of the transportation act
are to be violated at the will of the
railways then let the Cummins- -Esch
law be nullifed in its entirety and the
railways ordered to get along without
Interference from or the projection OF
the government
All the railway employees ask is
iair dealing from their employers and
fifty-fifty enforcement Of the Cum
mins- -Esch law. They will not agree
to any such g-handled application
ct the law certain of the railways
kave announced they intend to place
upon it. If the railway companies in
slst upon their violation of law rail
way employees will be fully justified
IN using every resource at their COM
Wand to combat the proposals of the
railroads"