The Ward County independent., 1922-04-20

certain organizations of railroad en-
ployees, such agreements to remain
operative during federal control, sub
ject to modification as provided in the
agreements.
early in the railroad administra-
ton it was declared that mo discrimi-
nation will be made in the employment
retention or conditions of employ
ment Of employees because of men,
bership or non-m membership in labor
organizations" No en1ploye is re-
quired to join an organization or is
prohibited from joining an organiZa
ton. The employees who are not men,
bers of organizations have the benefit
of the same working conditions as
those who are members. Non-mem-
bers have the right to representation
by the officers of the organization
just as members have in matters be-
fore the boards of adjustment.
"The policy thus carried out has
been in accordance with the policy
which the railroads generally ad-
hered to long prior to federal con-
troll with respect to the trainmen and
and engineers and yardmen. Prac-
tically every railroad had agreements
with the four organizations of train
men and enginemen or 'brotherhoods.'
"Closed Shop" is Not Established
"THESE AGREEMENTS DID
NOT ESTABLISH THE "CLOSED
SHOP" and the companies were free
to and did employ new men without
any reference to membership in the
organization"
The charge that the Railroad Ad-
ministration foisted something new
upon the railroads is not sustained by
the facts.
Mr.. McAdoo confirmed Mr.. Hines
statement that practically every first
class railroad in the country had SINH
lar agreements with the organizations
of train service employees and that
l42 roads prior to federal control had
maintained agreements with the shop
crafts.
The only purpose of the Railroad
Admins ira ton, Mr.. McAdoo declared,
was to extend to ALL employees rules
and working conditions that governed
a MAJORITY of workers in the rail
{; ad industry.
In his testimony before the Senate
Committee, Mr.. McAdoo said:
"Fractically all of the railroads un-
der federal control had in existence
agreements with the four brother
hocds-the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers, Order of Railway
Conductors, Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen and Brotherhood Of Fire
men and Enginemen-which provid-
ed the basis for compensation and
regulations of employment. In order
/ to adjust controversies arising be-
tween the railroad corporations and
members of engine and train crews, !
adopted and put into effect, March
%, 1918, the basis of understanding
arrived at i. between Messrs. A. H.
| Smith, president Of the New York
Central; C. H. Markham, president of
the Illinois Central; and R. H. Ashton
president of the Chicago and North
western, and the chief executive
officers of the four .brotherhoods.
"Many of the railroads, about 142,
rnder government control had in ex-
istence agreements with the six fede-
raj shop crafts, * and in order
to adjust controversies arising
nder these agreem ents / put into ef-
feet, May, 81, 1918, the basis of under
standing arrived at between Messrs.
Smith, Markham and Ashton, repre-
senting the railroads. and the chief
executive officers Of these federated
crafts"
Similarly, M. McAdoo says, an or
der was issued creating a board of
adjrG.ment for members Of the Order