The New York herald., 1922-07-13
WINS PRAISE
OF ALL EXCEPT GOMPERS

ninety-two railroads. in 104 cases, have
refused to abide by awards of the board.
In not single case mas the Railroad
Labor Board or the Federal Govern
ment coerced a railroad into accept
ance of an award. 1t remains for the
board and the Government to attempt
to coerce the workers into acceptance
Of most unfair and unacceptable
award. The courage and solidarity of
the workers in their resistance to ar
bitrary and autocratic orders is most
commendable and ought. to be ap-
plauded ey every liberty loving Ameri-
can.
THE Railroad Labor Board, in ar
order issued July 3, sought to glorify
and authorize strike breaking, the mos
despicable business in which men en-
gage. The board called upon strike
brokers' to organize, and 1t promised tt
recognize and deal with these organiza
tions of strikebreakers..
'-The President now adds his approval
to this form of activity by his reference
to the employment Of men who choose te
accept employment under the terms oi
the decision as having been 'necessi
tated.' He describes the boards aware
as a decision and thus adds his ap'
proval to the boards assumption OF q
power which it does not possess, as vel
as his approval to the business OF strike
breaking.
"Tne American Federation of Labor
at the outset branded the Eech- -Cummins
act as wrong in principle and doomed to
failure. We have the proof In abun-
dance. The law neither operates trains
nor gives justice to the workers. 1t is
one Of the most complete and ab1ect
failures Of our time. The day must
come when not only employers but gov
ernments will realize that industry can
not be operated on the principle Of au-
| tocracy and Imperialism. Conditions
cannot be imposed upon workers wher
those condition are not satisfactory tc
workers 1t matters not whether those
who seek to enforce such imposition are
employers or government courts and
commissions. These latter customarily
speak with the voice of employers offer-
ing the terms of employers. 1t Is de-
sirable that American railroads operate
continuously, but not at the price of the
sacrifice Of manhood and of justice.
"wan street,"
There are two great elements making
for railroad confusion to-day. One Is the
domination of Wall Street, which means
the management of railroads first of al
| for financial purposes. Railroads must
eventually be managed from the stand
point of service. Second. there Is the
Government court. seeking to enlarge
its powers and to impose it's will. This
must give way to a resumption of tbs
sound democratic practice of negotia'
ton and agreement between manage
ment and workers:
THE Presidents proclamation over
! looks fundamentals 1t Is an effort tc
sanctify and crown with power the Rail
road Labor Board. 1t is a denial Of
democratic methods. 1t Is an effort K
perpetuate the impossible. The one wa,
to operate the railroads In safety is Il
revive joint negotiations, bring justice
to the workers and thus make possibl,
a condition Of safety Of railroad equip
ment. The public Is endangered not by
what the workers may do but by rail
road equipment that Is going from bac
to worse and that cannot be kept IL
repair except by the constant attention
and effort of the men who now find 1
impossible to work.