Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-02

the violence and intimidation OF
the character resorted to In
many localities since the strike
was called.
Ba,k at First Sentence.
- That II is impossible 10
agree TO the first sentence Of the
third propoeal of the President,
the whole OF which reads as fol-
lows:
Third. All employees now on
strike TO be returned TO wock
and TO their former positions
with seniority and other rights
unimpaIred. The representatives
Of the carriers and the represen-
tatives of the organiza tione es-
pecially agree that there will be
no discrimination by either
party against the employees who
did or did not strife
The railroad executives and
managers agree entirely with
the Presidents statement IN his
letter that il is wholly un-
thinkable that the Railroad La
Dor Board can he made a uee-
ful agency Of the Government
in maintaining industrial peace
IN the railway eervice, unless
employers and workers are both
prompt and unouestionins in
their acceptance of it's decisions.
7 think II Is more desirable than
| know how 10 express to have
established the unchallenged
authority OF the Railroad Labor
Board because we must do those
things which are necessary 20
bring about the recognition OF
suitable authority TO decide and
end such disputes az menace the
continuity Of transportation"
Quote Harding to Establish Point.
by this language the Prcei-
dent has expressed with great
force and clearncss the policy
which we advocate. But the de-
cisions of the Railroad Labor
Board were flouted and defed
by the six orga mutations COM
prising the Federated shop
Crafts. the strike was called 10
take effect July l, 1922, and even
the summons OF the board 10 ap-
pear with the railroad execu-
tlves before the Labor Board.
after the strike was called and
before Il took effect was Contem-
ptuously ignored by the leaders
Of the strikers, who refused TO
attend the hearings. Thereupon
81 became the plain duty Of the
railroads actively and vigorous
" 20 undertake TO uphold the
orderly process for the adjust
ment of industrial disputes con-
tempiated by the statute Great
ing the Labor Board, and rep
resented by the decision OF that
board against which the strike
in question was directed, and
at the same time continue 10
the best OF their ability 10 dis
charge their duty TO the public
as common carriers,
MANY men in the service re-
fused 10 Join the strike, and IN
so doing were assured Of the
seniority rights ACQUIRING &c
them and of the permanence o.
their positions. On some i'm
portant lines 90 per cent or more
refused TO join the strike. TC
these old loyal employees have
been added thousands OF new
men who were employed, and
could be secured only upon q
definite promise that their ser.
vices would be retained regard.
less OF the settlement of tn,
strike. with all the rights ap,
pertaining TO such employment
including thai OF seniority under
the working rules and regula
tions previously approved b!
the Railroad Labor Board. w,
especially point cut that a re
fusal TO the old men who re
mained in the service and (
the new men who accepted ser
vice Of the rights OF seniority
incident TO their employmen
would have just the opposite ef
feet 10 that desired by the Presi
dent, and would most seriousl,
discredit the Labor Board. Tn
board itself prescribed the rule,
of seniority under which tn
men referred TO have secure,
their seniority rights. ana tn,
railroad companies have neithe
the legal nor moral right TO de
prive these men of those rights
BY public utterances since IN,
strike began the board has rec
ognized and emphasized thes,
rights. and 10 deny them nov
would. instead of upholding III,
tI,hcrtfv ~ +Ia Ia-.nr Roo ~