The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-10-27
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company of Indiana
The Chesapeake and Ohio Northern Railway Company
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Richmond, Va, Actober %, 1921

Richmond Va, ActOber 20, 1927
To the Employees of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railways
The daily press contains the information that certain
classes of our employees have determined strike
date in the very future The Companys officers have
received notice from the employees affected Such method
is so entirely unusual and contrary the customs and
tees hitherto prevailing that find it hard to credit the in
formation yet it to be auhorativey and openly
and plainly discussed by the labor leaders that there little
for doubt that such intention exists on the part OF
those directing the plans.
The beginning of the chapter OF events now eliminating
dates the period prior to February 10Th 1920 when Gov
eminent control of the railroad properties ceased At that
time will be remembered there request for an increase
in wages pending before the Railroad Administration, which
declined however to grant, because 1t felt III that instance
should make increase which would AFFECT
the future of the properties after Government control had
PRED The Transportation Act provided for method Of
handling such disputes and these provisions of the act we're
Immediately invoked in behalf of the affected Hearings
were held and July Goth 1920 certain increases in wages
amounting about 22 allowed retroactive to May lst
1920 The Labor Board announced at that time that working
conditions would be taken mp later
Effective August GOTH 1920 the Interstate Commerce
Commission made increases the rates of the railroads for
the purpose of complying with the requirements of the Trans
poration Act The increased wages granted July 2Oth
taken into consideration in arriving at these rates The
Interstate Commerce Commission made earnest effort to
reach fair and proper conclusion to the increases thus
granted and if the volume of business had been maintained
their calculations would undoubtedly have materazed Be-
ginning with January 1921 however the Of this
railroad precpately declined much that the Chesa
peake and Ohio Railway did not its operating expenses
February In this Of affairs which seemed to bid fair
to be permanent the Company compelled take
action the situation shown by statistics from
reliable other than railroad that the increase in cost
of living since the prewar period had been about seventy
five per whereas the increase wages hundred
and wenyseven per cent during the period seemed
therefore that employees should in fairness down
meet the situation above referred to- AS
further measure in meeting the situation the Company
dividend due June 3Oh 1921 deferred In other words
stakeholder forfeited the entire income he held stake The
question of reduction then presented in due
form and the prescribed method the United States Rail
road Labor Board provided for in the Transportation Act
The Board gave exhaustive consideration to the Num-
hearings held at which every interested
heard decision reached effective July st 1921 max
ing certain reductions the result of this investigation
This railroad accepted and put into effect in good faith
the increases granted the employees in July 1920 1t has
obeyed every ruling of the Labor Board affecting and
queny will be in this controversy there be one with abso
utey clean hands, 1t expected that Labor would also obey
the orders of the Board when properly arrived Instead of
carrying out the orders arrived at strike votes have been
taken and above stated informed by the columns
Of the newspapers that strike will be called Let eterae
that the position of this railroad is that it is willing in fact
carrying the decision of the Labor Board effective July
l 1921 In its application for decrease wages the Com
pany asked for the total arogaon of Decision No eec
tive May 1s 1920 but the Labor saw fit to grant only
little than half that amount which however the Com
pany accepted in good faith.
In this state of affairs it will be observed that the EN-
poyees discussing striking against of wages autho
zed by properly constituted Governmental Authority acting
entirely within that authority the question having
been effect since July LIST Surely this presents no coync
ing ground for such grave act strike and all re-
aze that the railroads carry out the decision of the
Government Board feel absolutely and conservativey safe
in making the statement that public opinion will cou-
strike such basis and disaster only can nS1e
if that persisted in. But il argued this only
the beginning Of series Of the part of the railroads
in making further decreases wages and taking away from
the working conditions and privileges which they
enjoy In to this it needs only show that the rail
roads under the present form of labor control do any
thing of the kind until the United States Labor Board has
considered such request fully had hearings upon it. and
given every interested the right appear and present his
side of the case