The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-07-11
wholly dlsxpprcvs o. what you
cay and will defend to the death your
right to cay it--voltaire to Hsivetius.


Gently begun ny certain railway laho
unions puts the labor provisions o
i'the Transportation Act 10 the firs
real test 10 which they have bee;
subjected" says the Railway Age
Temporarily the labor provisions have
broken down Their main gnsposs
was to prevent strikes. In this in
stance they have failed to accomplish
that purpose
The situation created Is quite dill
ferent from that brought about b,
the switchmens strikes in lslo
Those strikes occurred before the
Railraod Labor board really had be-
gun to junction. and were not ordered
or authorized by recognized and well
established labor unions. The pres
ent stiike has been ordered by the
heads OF recognized and well estab-
lished labor unions after full hearing
and decision by the Labor board re-
garding the matters in controversy
The defeat OF the unions would ne
victory for the method OF settling
fahor controversies which has been
established BY the government. II
would result not only in the strikers
losing their wages while they were
out. but also probably in many OF
them losing seniority and pension
rights and privileges which have
been OF value TO them. The effect OF
such an outcome would be to vsndi-
cate the provisions OF the Transpor-
tation Act and the decisions OF the
Railroad Labor Board. TO strengthen
the Labor Boards position and in
crease its prestige. and to make an
likely insgorsant strikes In detiancs
os the law and OF the Labor Boards
decisions in future.
III l. equally plain what would be
the effects Of even partial victory
by the labor Unions. II By their strike
they should gain any working condi-
tons or wages which from their
standpoint we're nore favorable than
those awarded by tho Labor Board.
this would convince them and other
railway Tabor unions not involved ia
the strike that they had more to gain
hy striking than by submitting their
claims 10 the Labor Board and ac-
cepting its decisions. This would
speedily result In the destruction OF
the method and machinery Tor peace
fully settling railway labor contro-
'sersies which have been established
by the Transportation Act Organ
ized labor naturally is going TO adopt
that Oolioy BY which II thinks 1t can
gain the most
''B. NJ. Jewell. head OF the shop
crafts unions says II is the rail-
ways next move. This Is not cor
rect. The next move Is the publIc's.
through its government
III the public prefers the method
OF settling railway labor controversies
now established by law. and the res
ults Of which. except in few and iso-
lated cases. public sentiment has
compelled the railways to accept,
then. :. plainly Is for the public
through its various government OFF,
cials and bodies. particularly the Rail-
road Labor Board. to take the ledeF-
ship in fighting to finish. It may
be assumed with practical certainty
that the railways will neither make
any oyertures to the labor unions that
have caused this strike. nor pay at
tentic- to any overtures from them.
For their rown reasons. and regard
less OF the future OF the present sys
TEN OF government regulation OF labor
controversies. they cannot afford to
concede jot to the strikers that has
not been conceded to them hy .he
Labor Boards awards.
The real issue presented is
whether labor unions involved will
be allowed to flout law passed by
Congress and defy and destroy gov