The New York herald., 1921-02-03
RAILROAD BOARD
TO HEAR ANSWER
OF UNIONS TO-DAY
Rebuttal to Atterbury's
Statement Prepared in
Secret Council.
JEWELL WILL REPLY
Boards Decision Expected
Friday on Abrogation
Of Agreement.
JEWELL WILL REPLY
NEW WIRE TO PRESIDENT
Roads Taking Advantage Of
Depression to Strike En-
ployces, 1t Says.

! CHICAGO, Feb. 2.-Objections TO rules
employees were laid before the Rail-
road Labor Board to-day in detail by
! e. T. Whittier, chairman OF the Car
riers Commission. Mr.. Whittier is
nearing the close Of four weeks
stretch of testimony and expects to
conclude presentation of his evidence
! tomorrow.
The testimony will be interrupted
! long enough probably tomorrow.
however, to permit a rebuttal state
ment by the employees to the declara-
tion of Gen. w. w Atterbury. repre-
senting the American Association of
Railway Executives last Monday. The
employees will make vigorous protest
against granting Gen. Atterbury's re-
quest for immediate abrogation Of the
national agreements covering working
conditions, pending completion of the
hearing now before the board.
3. M. Jewell. president Of the Railway
Employees Depa rtment of the American
Federation of Labor, has been closeted
with labor leaders for the last three
days preparing his reply to the After
bury request. 1t will be presented at to-
morrow mornings session Of the board.
it was planned, after which Mr.. Writer
will attempt to conclude the railroads
presentation of testimony.
Board members indicated that a de-
cision of Gen. Atterbury's request would
ha q n n q
no hearings are to be held on that day.
Labor men predicted that the board
would deny the request. and in some
quarters IL was said Il recess would be
asked by the employees representatives
to prepare rebuttal to the Whittier testi-
mony.
Desire to proceed with the hearing in
orderly manner, and declaration that the
board would not be stampeded into any
decision regarding the case. was eX-
pressed by board members, although it
wishes. they said, to reach decision in
the whole matter as speedily as possible
workers Deny Plumb Plan.
Mr.. Jewell tonight made public ar
other telegram to President Wilson
which was signed by himself and six
heads of rail workers organizations.
The message was a reply TO a telegram
sent to the President by Thomas De
Witt Cuyler. chairman Of the railway
executives, in answer to the original
message forwarded by the employees
protesting against the proposed abroga-
( ton of the national agreements To-
nights message read in part as fol-
lows:
'yve have read in the press a copy of
a telegram which the railway executives
are reported to have addressed to YOU
I'm reply to our recent message The
charge is made in this telegram that
our original object In calling to your
attention the astounding action Of Mr..
Atterbury last Monday before the Rail-
road Labor Board was conceived as
Plumb Plan League propaganda" The
statement is false and is put forward
to deceive the public.
''rhe claim Is made that the railway
worker, who is already the chief suf-
terer from the depression in the trans
portation industry. and whom Mr.. At
terbury considers least able TO defend
himself, is to have his distresses further
exploited in order that railroad reserves
may be conserved and railway finances
maintained unimpaired. Such an at
titude is not only repugnant TO the most
elementary considerations of human well
fare but iS directly at variance with
the actual decisions OF all courts and
arbitration tribunals. Without an ex-
ception they have all held. as you know.
that the financial conditions OF a cor
poration should not have any bearing
upon the determination OF reasonable
wages or working conditions
I'm addition TO thus violating all
precedents and striking at the very ex-
istence of tho Labor Board itself Mr.
Atierbury's action, we believe. has n
deeper significance. We are convinced
that he wished to take advantage Of the
temporary unemployment and the un-
fortunate economic condition OF the
railroad workers, which the railroads
have intensified TO crush our labor
organizations and to deprive us OF our
fundamental right ana guarantees, all
OF which are reasonable"