St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-02

tral System has dealt fairly by the strik-
ing shOpmen In addition to the letters
which we addressed to them, reasoning
with them and exhorting them to let their
better Judgment prevail, our officers ap-
pealed to them personally, worked with
them and did everything they honoraDly
could do to induce them to vote against
the proposed strike; to refuse to give up
their positions after the strike had been
called, and, finally, to return to the seryi.as
j: in time to preserve their pension and
seniority rights unimpaired.
We hold no feeling OF resentment toWar,i
: those of our former shopmen who, as a re-
suit of being mis1ed, gave up their posi-
stions and the henefts and privileges which
they formerly held So long as vacancies
exist we shall give preference to those ot
our former skoBmen who have not re-
sorted to violence or damaged company
property.
However, frankness compels us to make
clear that the vacancies are being rapidly
filed. Our mechanical forces are largely
depleted at only one IF the MT !, shop
plants on the illinois Central System n
all of our Dthnt chops GU, mechanical
forces range all the way from substantial
forces to more than 200 per cent of
normal. This disparity has made it nee
essary for US TO transfer some OF our
work from the shops HAVING the smallest
forces to those having the largest Tbs
total number o. men employed In $leass
mechanical department Of the Illinois
Central System on June 80, the day ne
fore the strike, was 13,507. On August
a. after almost two months of the Strike
there were 1868 employees IN the me-
chanical department., of whom very large
percentage were old employees who re-
mained faithful by refusing to strike.
Therefore, on August "a we had only S54
fewer employees in the mechanical depart
ment than on the day before the strike
On July 3, the Labor Board, by resall-
ton, called for the formation Of new or
ganizations to take the places Of lhpse
who had refused to a bide by the decisions
of he board. The following is quoted
from that resolution:
Whereas in the future submission Of
disputes involving rules, wages ald
grievances of said classes of employees
of the carriers it will be desirable, II
not practical necessity, for the em-
ployes of each class or each carrier to
form some sort of an association or or
ganization to function in the representa-
ton OF said employees before the Rail
road Labor Board III order that the #
fectiveness OF the Transportation Act
may be maintained.
Now, therefore, be 1t resolved that "
employees remaining in the service and
the new employees succeeding those who
have left the service, to take steps as
soon as practical to perfect on each CARR
er such organizations as may be deem
ed necessary for the purpose above men
toned, and
Be It further resolved that If it be
assumed that the employees who leave
the service Of the carriers because OF
their dissatisfaction with any decision
of the Labor Board are within their
rights in so doing, 1t must likewise be
conceded that the men who remain IN
the service and those who enter it anew
are within their right in accepting such
4 employment-that they are not strike
V breakers, seeking to impose the arbl-
trary will of an employer on employes--
that they have the moral as well as
the legal right to engage in such service
of the American public to avoid inter-
ruption or Indispensable railroad trans
portation and that they are entitled to =
the protection of every department ami
branch Of the Government, state and
national.
m response to the resolution of the
Labor Board, the employees Of the mechani-
cal department of the Illinois Central Sys-
tenn have perfected their own organiza-
tions, as follows:
Association of Machinists, Helpers ari
Apprentices,
Association of Boilermakers, Helpers
and Apprentices,
Association Of Blacksmits, Helpers and
Apprentices, r..
Association of Sheet Metal Workers,
Helpers and Apprentices, s. S.
Association of Carmen, Helpers and
Apprentices,
Association Of Electricians, Helpers AMI
Apprentices.
The foregoing organizations furnish the
machinery through which representatives
of the employees may at any time obtain
conferences with representatives or the
management. In case differences arise
which cannot be composed, the way IS
always open for an appeal to the Labor
Board The feeling among the employees
OF our mechanical department in regard
to thesdesirability of these organizations
is evidenced by the fact that only | 80 fali-
ed to join them
In closing this communication, we de-
sire to avail ourselves of the opportunity
to extend the sincere thanks of the man
agement to those shopnen who have re
mained loyal and faithful in the crisis
through which we have been passing and
have helped us to discharge our obliga-
ton to the public.
G. H. MARKHAM,
President, Illinois Central System.
- = L = 9.