Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-01-27
HOOPER TALKS
ABOUT RAILWAY
LABOR BOARD
Believes Public Sentiment
Will Force Avoidance of
All Interference

BOSTON, Jan. 2T.--Railway manage
ments and their employees have a moral
obligation to avoid interruption Of traf
fic. and the Uni, ed States railroad labor
board il endeavoring to lead both ear.
riers and rail workers TO carry out this
obligation. Ben. W. Hooper. vice chair
man of the labor board declared today
before the Boston Chamber of Com
merce.
Mr.. Hooper. q. w. w. Hanger. public
member. and w. l.. McAIenimcn. labor
member Of the board were guests Of
the chamber at luncheon, where Mr.
Hooper voiced the opinion hat America
had passed through tine winter Of our
discomfort" and was now standing or
tiptoe. with the slogan If the vernaeu!ar
on her lips. Let's go.
The hard pull Is over" the former
goveror of Tennessee said. The farm
er IL the only man in the country who
has really Debated lie alone did not
have the parachute Of organization t.
retard his descent and break his fall
The next time this country takes al
international ioyr.de in the Zeppelin Of
war. the farmer will have his parachute
along with him. and will not be invited
to step cut ON q stormcloud and slid,
down on a rainbow"
Mr.. Hooper said he expected the num-
her of railway employees to be largely
increased in the spring. that revenues
would be enlarged 10y increased business
and that conditions would probably jus
tify reduction of rates (which il 50
essential To the restoration of normal
business"
In return tn normal. Governor Hoop
or said. the railroads had accomplished
the transition without any general strike
or serious disturbance.
As rule, both managements and en-
ployes have co-opernted cordially in ear
rying out the transportation act" Mr.
Hooper said. This has not been easy
for either side.- The railroads have ha1
20 contend with financial difficulties. and
have been continually subjected 10 the
temptation of taking the bit in their
teeth and trying to get relief by indie
pendent action more quickly than the
labor board considered III just and rea
sonable 10 give 60 them. Only few
carriers have succumbed to this tcmpta-
sion. and. in every instance, friction and
dscontent have resulted.
The complaints of the employees have
been that certain carriers. TO avoid deal
ing with labor organizations. have disrs
garded the rights of the majority guar
apteed by the transportation act: that
certain carriers have evadcd the board;
wage orders by having receivers N
charge put into effect wage orders of
the courts without submitting the mat
ter Ia the board and that certain ear
ricrs have cvadrd the wage decisions of
the board by contracting or claiming {"
contract certain classes of their worE
TO independent contractors.
Whatever may bc III" merit of thes"
contentious of the employees. IL is cvi-
dent that they involve provocative situa-
TONS. Under somewhat trying circum-
stances. the employees have exhibited
commendablc self restraint.
"On the other hand. practically all the
carriers have promptly put ir'" effect
decisions Of the labor board with which
they We're not in thorough accord and
have struggled patiently and courage
ouslv with dscouraging conditions.
The question will occur to you: VIII
the fear of thee condemnation ~ public
sentiment always secure the ohed ence
of the parties 10 the decisions of the
railroad labor board. or will there come
time when powerful motives of self
interest will induce one or the "'hcr e.
tramplc underfoot the boards decisions
and override public opinion:
Il would not underestimate tho pc
tencv of public opinion. II eNerts a
tremendous Influence in this country of
ours. AIv personal view is that neither
the carriers nor their employees have
the moral right to discontinue railway
operation 10 enforce the demands Of
either upon the either.
1T must not he forgotten that there
are some labor leaders and certain Ia
har periodicals which persistently preach
the disgusting doctrine that the tcilerS
of this country cannot trust the courts
and tribunals having jurisdiction Of their
troubles The railway labor board. II
moved by profound desir" to do Jus
tee. may largely ccrnteract this des'rac-
tive preachment. and that ilhont slop-
ping over like neurstheaic parlor
COMMUNIST"