Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-05
ARE THE RAILROADS TO LOSE
SUPPORT OF PUBLIC OPINION?
They Ignore the Main Issue When They
Insist on Quibbins Over Senior.
ity Rights Of the Shopmen
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

THE refusal of the railroad executives to
accept in full President Harding 3
plans for a settlement of the strike has,
apparently. once more left the situation as
high as Gilderoys kite
The striking shopmen by accepting the
terms, even though reluctantly as they put
it, have placed the burden of responsibility
on the railroads and leaves them in an
illogical position.
The first of Mr.. Harding's propositions
was: Railroad managers and workmen
are TO agree to recognize the validity of all
decisions of the Railroad Labor Board, and
TO faithfully carry out such decisions as
contemplated by the law
The railroad executives by agreeing to
this have obligated themselves to observe
the mandates of a Federal body which they
were the first to tout. and whose decisions
they deiantly disregarded.
1t was long after the railroads refusal
TO recognize the Labor Boards decision
that the shopmen decided to follow suit.
In fact the railroad managers by their
example not only encouraged the shopmen
to similar action but showed them the way
to do It.
BY rejecting President Hardings condi.
tions the railroad executives have assumed
an untenable position. 1t is illogical.
They have agreed 10 accept and obey the
Railroad Labor Boards future decisions on
all subjects.
Necessarily this includes not only the
questions of wages and conditions, but of
seniority as we'll
The seniority issue however. they de-
clare, in so many words. must be made an
issue separate and apart and one that must
be fought to a finish now.
In official railroad circles the theory Is
maintained that if there is any yielding to
the striking shopmen on the seniority
question now, it will be only a question of
time until other strikes among other classes
OF workmen will drag this same issue again
into the limelight.
The strikers have expressed desire to
end the strike. The question of seniority
rights and pensions alone intcrferes
As 70 the matter Of pensions the men have
already contributed 10 this fund and form
of protection. some of them for many years,
and it is a nice point whether or not the in
surance laws are applicable in this instance,
in the sense Of paidup policy value to
each individual case.
Now the danger of a great crisis impends.
1t could have been avoided had the rail-
road executives taken a less drastic course
in dealing with the subject if they had de-
clared. after Secretary lIoover's urgent ap-
peal. that they accepted President Harding's :
proposition with the distinct understanding
that the seniority issue must be decided i'm
mediately by the Labor Board and likewise
the status Of the new mon
IT, in such event, the boards decision
had been adverse to the Shopmen and they
had again refused to accept the decision,
then the railroads could have demanded that
the full power Of the government be made
effective in ending an intolerable situation
And public sentiment would have been
behind the railroads like a wall of adamant
Il is apparent that the railroads have
decided to force the seniority issue and
compel the Government to bring all It's
power TO command settlement in their
favor. Until now public opinion has been
overwhelmingly with the railroads; 1t will
be an unfortunate day when the public
withdraws its moral support from any cause
they advocate.