Evening star., 1921-10-27
Richmond, Va. October, Is, 1921
To the Employees of The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway:

To the Employees OF The CHESAPEAKE anu Ono naA""J'
The daily press contains the information that certain
date in the very future The officers have
notice the employees affected Such
toes prevailing that and hard to credit the IN
formation yet to be 80 authortatvey and openly
such intention exists on the part OF
those directing the plans =
dates to the period February 2sth 1920 when Gov
control the railroad properties ceased At that
time remembered there request for an increase
in wages pending the Railroad which
declined however to grant because it felt In that instance
should not make in which would AFFECT
the future properties after control had
pred Transportation Act provided for method OF
disputes these provisions OF the act were
Immediately in behalf Of the affected Hearings
were held July 2oh 1920 certain increases in wages
amounting to about allowed retroactive to May 1s
Labor Board at that time that working
conditions would be taken up Later
Commission in the rates Of the railroads for
the Of complying with the % the s o
into In arriving at these
reach fair and proper conclusion as to the
granted If volume Of business had been
n
railroad precpitately declined much that the Chesa
peake and Ohio Railway did not operating expenses
In February In this state AFFAIRS bid fair
permanent the Company was compelled to take some
reliable sources other than railroad
Of living prewar period had been about seventy
and Der cent during the same period seemed
therefore, that employees should In fairness come down
10 In meet the situation above referred to- As
further In meeting the situation the Companys
dividend duo June 30th 1881 was deferred In other words
spcolder forfeited the entire income he held at stake The
question reduction in wages then presented in due
and m the prescribed method to the United States Rail-
road Board provided for In the Transportation Act
Tho Board rave exhaustive consideration the Num-
hearings held at which interested was
heard decision reached, effective July st 1921 max
ing reductions the result Of this Investigation
railroad accepted and put into eject in good fa1th
granted the employees in July, 1890 1t has
sysd every ruling Of Labor Board affecting It, and
quany w in this controversy there be with abso-
teH clean hands expected that Labor would also Obey
yheord o9 Board when properly arrived At Instead Of
carrying the orders arrived Ct strike votes have been
ksn and above stated informed by the columns
newpsps that strike win be called Let me reiterate
poon Of @ railroad ID that is willing In TACT 10
carving decision Of the Labor Board effective July
B ls31 application for deorease in wages the Com
May 1920 but the Labor Board saw fit to grant only
little than half that amount which, however the Com
pany accepted in good faith.
this Of affairs it will be observed that the en-
Eed hy properly constituted Governmsntal Authority acting
entirely within that authority the wages question having
besn IN e6ec since July 1t Surely this presents no convnc-
ing ground for such grave act q STRIKE ana an must re-
Government Board fee absolnsy and oonssrvavey safe
In making the statement that public opinion win not oou-
tenance strike such basis and disaster only can ensue
II that course h persisted In But is argued this only
in making further decreases in and taking away from
the working conditions and privileges which they now
enjoy to this it needs only to show that the rail-
the form OF labor control cannot do
oondsrsd snch request fu1y had hearings upon it. and
given Svuy ons ntscased H. Eghk - aDax ana present N