The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-16

ar" 1rG"r adviS"ncnt . nd arr awaiting
'hc collection OF further Information
regarding tho feasibility OF such
cuurs" 1T was sad.
Chicago. April I5.-Abroration or
the national agreement between the
r. l-naGS ara ih":r employees An
not" cnd yesterday H. tho railroad labor
To- .ir,. vas Officially accepted tonight
by .he executive council Of the shop
trades in A statcmr2: which hailed the
,'"ciSion MS 4 great victory for labor.
eclaI!nG q dii not impair lsbors eco
nom" nr s"c:a' status. About 100000
r.er a-c employed in the shop crafts
During tho day tho railroads, through
the -oufe-"ncc committee Of the Asso
cation of Railway Executives and
through statements from the heads OF
!niividu,l roads approved the decision
a. a vho," although criticizng certain
features VI il.
Thc attitude OF The shop trades ooun-
c.!. however. apparently was no shared
by all labor leaders. Samuel Gompers.
president Of the American Federation
0f Labor. IN A statement issued in New
York G"cla red that the board must have
been "in:.ucacAi by big business,
whr!e "thvrs termed the decision the
"purN Of the steel trust" and criticized
II severely.
Labor Board E1t1Snsd
The labor board itself expressed sa,-
!SfaclioH over the fact that the decision
apparently had met with some approval
from both Sidcs. declaring that this in
dlcatcd that / lad at least opened the
way 70 p. r,ra'."nt industrial peace be-
4 n1lA
The decision u1 the board to permit
individual conferences between each
road and It's employees. instead OF grant,
iES labur'S request for one national
was said by board members 10 have
b. On the only course open 10 the board.
There is nothing in the law 10
authorize tn" board 70 set up ma
,.onal conference or national set OF
ag-c"u,nts." said 4 member OF tho pub
Tic rrnup Every railroad has the in
al.c:abie right 10 negotiate with It's
own employees II It so desires, and
every American citizen has thcr !Ght
10 make his own terms with his en-
rlu>,rs If hc SO desires. Neither 'dt =
i,r bound by concerted action on ID -
SIDE.
The board also let Il become kro:o
that while the set Of sixteen princi0ies
which the decision said should b" par:
NJ any ,.rccment. W. :, rit;cn by E"Gr!
r Hun, Of the pubic group. it had been
approved by "ve-y member OF the
board.
Shop Trades Statement.
The statement ssrr"d b. the eNecu-
i've ruuac:l "f the shop trades was as
follows:
Railway employees can accept the de-
riS;on because il involves no impair
ucnt Of their economic or social status
InTerd 10 have this code promulgated
hy a governmental agency such as tne
| nitcd States railroad labor board
means more 10 organized labor than dn1
code that has ever been establishes n
any industry. 1t ia vindication oil the
rundam"ntal principles lor Vhich W
have contended consistently and persist
emily and rs acceptance IN good laitn
by railroad mana cement. will mean that
IN" public interest VIII De 1uAS on'
scrSCd
"pnn ur tn" greatest sources or graz
ncatior tu rs in tho decision is the re-
bukc to n. minority groCp OF ralfroad
executives Who have been more inter
as,ed in a misguided effort to destroy
The labor organizations OF employees
,han they have in securing the coopera'
r:on Of ra;lwa! workers and In operat'
!rg the railroad properties entrusted &c
their supervision. with economy and
success.
I'VE brl:"vr that tho decision marks
. new era in industrial freedom. VI"
have never been primarily interested ~
;cchni,al riss or tcrninoloSy. although
the railroads hav" endeavored by be;1
p-opaEanda 10 make US appear IN n's
light before the public. We have been
= nd arc now lighting for human rights
AMI the Fundamental economic rights or
railway employees. The labor board has
moro than ,lndicatsSl> our position they
have To great extent established ~
,hc;r decision tho bill Of rights for
which We have been CnntendinS.
This decision Of the labor board VIII
no, only hav" very strong and bench
rial effect upon the transportation in-
Jus,ry, but il will mark the beginning
Of industrial law. SO 10 speak. and or
code Of principles which will be used az
a basis Of proceeding in all our basic
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