Evening journal., 1922-06-08
-ASSAIL HEADS
OF R. R. unions
Employees, Expecting Reduc-
tions, Prepared for New
Scale, Executives Say
ABSOLVE WORKERS
{. OF RESISTING ORDER

CHICAGO, June s.-Chief execu-
tives OF six of the greatest railroad
systems in the United States united
.9sst night in a scathing denunciation
or the methods. intents and pur-
poses pursued and furthered by the
ruling heads Of the dominant rail
labor unions OF the Nation.
- In an arraignment that lacked no
element OF condemnation in its par
lance or phraseology. II. r. Byram.
president OF the Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Paul Railway Company; Hale
Holden. Of the Burlington route; w.
II. Finley, of the Chicago and
Northwestern Railway; j. p. Cor
man. Of the Rock Island system; c.
II. Markham, Of the Illinois Central
system. and s. NJ. FELTON,, of the Chi
cago Great Western Railway, assail-
ed with straight-from-t m-the-shoulder
hammer blows the persistent efforts
of the brotherhood leaders for
months to throw the country into
the maelstrom OF a general rail
.walkout that would tie up industry
and bring untold suffering to mill
lions OF workers.
--In their indictment the roads alb
solve the employees OF participation in
such designs. They depict them as
catspaws of the union leaders,
-sehose viewpoints have been distort-
ed by the month OF effort before the
Wage Board to resist the inevitable
downward trend OF wages.
They declare that there is a very
Eood reason for doubling whether
the men themselves-the railway
eflployes-really are in sympathy
with resistance to the decisions of
the board"
The truth is, they assert that the
MEN have been expecting a reduction
in their wages. and "as would be the
case among any other body of intel
iigent men," they have made and are
making preparations to meet the
new scale. There is. in fact" the /
roads declared. mo talk of strike !
among the men"
~ The union heads are accused OF
preparing "the disturbing statements ,
mead by the public" relating to un- (
rest and dissatisfaction, in the face (
OF a sincere interest on the part of 4
the employees ''to take care of their (
Sobs and their homes" And few .
employees, It is assured, in any indus
try. have more good reasons for /
doing So"
.auB. NJ. Jewell president OF the
Railway Employees Department of I
the American. Federation OF Labor /
and rail union spokesman" is /
80 hn
executives who has severely criti- /
cised the decision of the Rail Labor |
Board awarding the reduction in |
wages OF shop craft employees"
Jewell says the decision will cause
-employes to believe that the board
is not an impartial court created to
dispense justice, but body created
to help the railroads carry out their
labor policy" the statement AYERS.
nia"He attacks the Wage Board also !
on the ground that the proposed /
scales are lower than the minimum (
required to support the average I
family according TO American stand
ards. The constant alluslon to aver
age family is no different now than
Il was before the war and compar-
isons are being made on that basis"
The representatives of the lines
believe the fact that the men in rail-
road service work under much more
favorable conditions than in outside
shops and Industries should not be
mo class OF men doing
Such work in any industry have bet
ter homes and surroundings" they
declared.
The existence and policy OF the
Rail Board are credited with bene-
sting railroad employees. because
he board has prevented their reduc-
lions in wages until long after the
wages of men doing similar work in
1ther industries had been cut"
THE public should not overlook
he fact that in deciding the propos-
ID wages of these employees" con-
inued the statement, namely main
ensnce of way and shopmen, the
labor Board, which is a govern
nental body. said: After the reduc-
ions made under this decision
these employees on the Z
ailroads will still be receiving, as
Frule. a wage in excess OF that paid !.
o simiplar employees in other indus
ries.' The board held in its opinion !,
hat measured by the present cost OF !,
wing the average hourly wages of !,
nachinists, for instance, after July 1, :,
Sill stlll have 10 per cent. more pur- :,
,hasing power than in December, =
le17; those of carmen 46 per cent :,
more purchasing power, and those =
II common labor As Il per cent more. .
That is to say, measured by the cost =
of living, their wages will still be =
these percentages higher than at the e