The New York herald., 1921-02-19
RAILROADS REFUGE
WAGE CONFERENCES
Association of Executives Ac-
cepts Stand of Its Labor
Committee.
NO NATIONAL DEALING,
Conditions in Individual Com
panies and Territories to Gov
ern Pay of Employees.

CHICAGO, req. lS.-The Association
of Railway Executives at its meeting
to-day unanimously adopted the report
of its labor committee and passed reso.
lutions refusing to enter into national
conferences suggested by the employees
as a means of settling differences over
wages of unskilled 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 regard to rates
of pay for unskilled labor "relegates the
initiation of action upon this matter
to the individual railways and their own
employees"
The executives denounced the em-
ployees' proposed conferences as a plan
by labor leaders to bring about nation
alization OF the railroads. Efficiency OF
labor upon railroads was incompatible
with continuance of the strength and
growth Of the consolidation OF labor
unions represented by B. NJ. Jewell and
his associates, the labor committee re-
port said.
The committee report pointed out THAI
the opposition made by the roads to the
national agreements and the position
taken to-day was not to be construed
as an attack on labor organizations
themselves.
Seek Labor Emciency.
"All that we have been trying to do
TIE report said, lis to get the opportun-
ity to deal with our own employees so
as to restore the efficiency Of labor on
railroads. and II possible avoid nom
employment and defer serious wage re-
ductions. The leaders of the labor
unions. by the position they have taken-
save directly raised the issue whether
the maintenance and increase of tho
lower of the national labor unions shall
be placed above the public interest in
the efficient and economical operation
Of our transportation system"
r. NJ. Jewell, chairman of the rail-
way labor department of the American
Federation of Labor. on THURSDAY asked
the Railway Labor Board to refer the
national agreements and the question
OF wages of unskilled labor to national
joint conference OF railway heads and
representatives of the labor unions
After referring to this demand and the
statement made by Frank p. Walsh
before the board that the unions might
find it necessary to make IAN earnest
effort TO prevent Congress elacting into
law pending legislation for the financial
relief of railroads, the report said:
THE railroads are thus confronted
with this situation: While endeavoring
to escape from one set of rigid and uni
form rules and working conditions n-
herited from the war. they are met
with a new demand which. if acqui-
esced in by the Labor Board. would de- 4
prive individual carriers OF direct neeo-
tiations with their own employees.
These demands amount to nationaliza- v
ton of the railroads in the interests of ,.
consolidated labor unions but against, \,
the real interests of the employees. y
Such naturalization is absolutely r-,T
compatible with the efficient and eco
nomical operation of the railroads"
Replying TO statements by labor lead
ers that the railroads suggestion to
abrogate the national agreement waso
part Of plot originating in Wall Street,,
to break down the labor orSanizations.t
the report said: 20
''The record demonstrates that the'.
railways have acted throughout inde-r,
pendently, primarily in their own inter-f
est. but also in the interest of the Ship,
pers and farmers."> :,
Basic Principles Outlined.
One resolution adopted said that the
fundamental principles which should
guide the railroads In the relations with
their employees were
lHdt t1e COnuuCt OF nlOucfn trans
portation is a great cooperative inter-
prise. requiring for its highest success
the honest and loyal cooperation of EN-
ployer and employee.
''2. That Section 301 of tho transpor-
tation act. requiring every reasonable
effort to avoid disputes which might re-
suit in interruptions to traffic, should be
complied with in spirit and letter.
%. That one OF the greatest advan-
tages of private over Government own
ership and operation OF railroad lines
lies In the greater adaptability Of indi-
vidual railroads TO the geographical So
cial. economic and operating conditions
which vary greatly with different por-
tions OF the country.
a. That the restoration and mantc-
nance Of this variation is essential 10
private ownership.
"5. That II is opposed to sound public
policy to require all railroads to operate
under rigid and uniform rules and
working conditions or wages. because IL
prevents economical operatio and re-
suits in injury TO other industries and
to farmers and stock raisers. who are
brought into competition with the rail-
ways for labor.
IS That under normal conditions tho
adjustment OF these differences cannot
be made the subject OF national con-
ferences, as that implies by its very
nature violation of the differing needs
of the railroads and the territories they
serve"