Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-19
Executives Score Proposed
Conference as Labor's
Plan to Nationa)ize
DENY FIGHT ON UNION
Oppose Uniform Rules and Wages as
Preventing - Sound Operation
Deny Wall Street Charge.

| Chicago, Feb. l9.-The Association
Of Railway Executives III its meet
! ing yesterday unanimously adoptea
the report Of its labor committee and
passed resolutions refusing to enter
into national conferences suggested
by the employees as means OF sctt-
; ling differences over wages Of un-
Skilled labor and working conditions
Concerning future action on the
part of the executives, the committee
report simply advised them that the
decision of the Labor Board in re-
gard to rates Of pay for unskil!ed
labor "relegates the initiation Of ac-
ion upon this matter to the !nGivjd-
u;l railways and their own en-
ployes."
The executives denounced the en-
nloyes' proposed conferences as a
plan By labor leaders to oring about
naturalization Of the railr> ds. Ef-
iciency Of labor upon railroads was
incompatible with continuance Of the
strength and growth Of the consoh-
lation Of labor unions represented by
3. VI. Jewell and his associates, the
labor committee report said.
The committe report pointed ont
that the opposition made hy the roads
20 the national agreements and the
position taken yesterday was not to
be construed as an attack on labor
organizations themselves.
".All that NE have been trying 10
io,' the report said, "is 70 get the
opportunity. 10 deal with our own en-
oloyes so as to restore the efficiency
of labor on railroads and If possible
avoid non employment and defer scri-
Gus wage reductions. The leaders Of
the labor unions. By the position
hey have taken. have directly raised
the issue whether the maintenance
and increase Of the power Of the ma
tioanl labor unions shall be placed
above the public interest in the effic-
ency and economical operation OF
,ur. transportation system" :"
B. NJ. Jewell, chairman o? the
railway labor department OF the
Americsn Federation Of Labor
Thursday asked the Railway Labor
Board to refer the national agree
neats and the question Of WAGES OF
anskilled labor to nationa! io:rt
conference Of railway heads and rep
resentatives of the labor unions.
Replying to statements by labor
'caders that the railroads suggestion
o abroaete the national agreements
was part Of plot originting in Wall
street to break down the labor or.
carnations, the report said:
"Thc record demonstrates that the
always have acted throughout inde-
pendently. primarily IN their own in
tcrest, but also in the interest OF the
ahippers aad the farmers"
One resolution adopted said that
ehc fundamental principles which
should guide the railroads in the re-
atoms with their employees were:
"l. That the conduct Of modern
transportation is a great co-opera-
.ive enterprise requiring for its high
IS, success tho honest and loya! CO.
operation Of employer and employe.
"2. That section 301 of the Trans
oortation act requiring every reason
able effort to avoid disputes which
night result in interruptions 10 trat-
&c should D. complied with in spirit
!. and letter.
"3. Tnas ore Ct the greatest adj
7anta9es 6 private over Government;
>wnershin and orerat!on Of railroad
ines lies IL TIE greater adaptability
# individual railroads 70 the geo
yraphical. social, economic and opc.
ating conditions which vary greatly
with different portions Of the coun,
Try.
a. That the restoration and main.
'ensnce of this variation is essentia,
| % private ownership.
rs. That i is opposed to ,ounc
! oublic policy 70 require all railroads
@ operate under rigid and uniform
! -ules and working conditions OF
! wages. because it prevents ecororica
,nnration and results in injury t
other industries and to farmers an:
! stock raisers, who are brought int
! 'nnDetition with the railways 70
tabcr