Evening star., 1922-01-27
RAIL MEN MORALLY
OBLIGATED TOPEACE
D. S. Labor Board Endeavors
| to Prevent interruption
r of Traffic.

! BOSTON, January 27.-Railway
managements and their employees
have a moral obligation to avoid IN
terruption of traffic and the Un1teu
States Railroad Labor Board is en-
deavoring to lead both carriers and
rail workers to carry out this obli-
cation. Ben w. Hooper, vice chairman
Of the Labor Board, declared today De-
fore the Boston Chamber of Com
merce.
Mr.. Hooper. G. W. w. Hanger, pub
1io member. and w. l.. McMehllnen'
labor member of the board, were
guests of the chamber at luncneoh'
where Mr.. Hooper voiced the opinion
that America had passed through the
winter of our discomfort ana was
now standing on tIptoe. with the SO
gan of the vernacular on her .nps'
Lets go""
'The hard pull is over" the former
Governor of Tennessee said. "The
farmer is the only man in the country
who has really debated. He alone
did not have the parachute OF orsahi-
zation to retard his descent and break
his fall, The next time this country
takes an international joyride in the
Zeppelin of war L. n .armer Will nave
his parachute alons with him and Will
not be invited to step out on q storm
cloud and slide down on a rainbow.
Expects Work Increase.
Mr. Hooper said he expected the
number of railway employees to be
largely increased in the spring, that
revenues would be enlarged by IN
creased business and that conditions
would proba bly, justify reduction OF
rates, which is so essential 10 the
restoration of normal business"
In return to normal, Gov. Hooper
said, the ,railroads had accomplished
the transtt.on without any general
strike or Serious disturbance.
"As a rule, both arrangements and
employees have co-operated cordlaiiy
in carrying out the transportation
act" Mr.. Hooper said. This has not
been easy for either side. The rail-
roads have had TO contend with imam
cial difficulties. and have been con-
tinually subjected to the temptation
of taking the bit in their teeth and
trying to get relief by independent
action more quickly than the Labor
Board considered it just and reason
able to give to them. Only few
carriers have Succumbed to this temp
tation. and, in every instance. friction
and discomfort have resulted.
THE complaints of the employees
have been that certain carriers, to
avoid dealing with labor organiZa-
tions, have disregarded the rights of
the majority guaranteed by the trans
portation act, that certain carriers
have evaded the boards wage orders
by having receivers in charge put
into effect wage orders of the courts
without submitting the matter to the
board, and that certain carriers have
evaded the wage decisions of the
board by contracting or claiming to
contract certain classes of their work
to Independent contractors.
Provocative Situations.
~Whatever may be the merit of
these contentious of the employees, it
is evident that they involve provoca-
tive situations. Under somewhat try
ing circumstances the employees have
exhibited commendable self-restraint.
''On the other hand, practically all
the carriers have promptly put into
effect decisions of the labor board
with which they were not in thor
ough accord, and have struggled pa
tiently and courageously with dis
couraging conditions.
THE question will occur to you.
Will the fear of the condemnation of
public sentiment always secure the
obedience Of the parties to the deci-
sionS of the Railroad Labor Board, or
will there come a time when power
full motives of self-interest will in
duce one or the other to trample un-
der foot the boards decisions and
override public opinion?
Il would not underestimate the
potency of public opinion. 1t exerts
q tremendous influence in this coun-
try of ours. My personal view is
that neither the carriers nor their
employees have the moral right to
discontinue railway operation to en-
force the demands of either upon the
other.
cit must not be forgotten that
there are some labor leaders and
certain labor periodicals which per-
sistently preach the disquieting doc
trine that the toilers of this country
cannot trust the courts and tribunals
having jurisdiction of their troubles.
The Railroad Labor Board. If moved by
a profound desire to do justice, may
largely counteract this destructive
preachment, and that without slop-
ping over a like neurasthenic parlor
communist"