The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1922-08-04
Concerning Seniority
Rights Of Strikers.

To have accepted President
ITarding's suggestions concerning
seniority rights of strikers would
have meant that railways would in
future be operated under terms laid
down hy the unions, and at the
expense Of the public, according to
statement by w. A. Winburn,
President Of the Central Of Georgia
Railway.
Mr.. Winbum says-"The accept
mce of President Harding's
sugge, tions by the railway executives
would not have meant permanent
industrial peace. On the contrary
| it would have meant nothing less
than complete surrender to the do
mination of union labor The inevi-
table result would have been contra
airy to the public interest in that all
property and every peaceful pursuit
must be subordinate to the demands
of privileged class, and the rail-
ways would have to operate under
terms laid down by the unions at
the expense of the public. The
people should understand that in
making their unanimous decision
the executives were rot moved by
sentiment, but adopt the only policy
that will enable them to serve the
best interests of the public.
"Many railroads have already
largely filled their ranks with cara-
bic men who, notwithstanding
assertions to the contrary, will re-
main at their work and who will do
| it well. Naturally it would be UNI
fair to discharge these men who
have performed n pubic service,
and who have enabled the people
to travel and to carry on their bust
ness. TO restore seniority to the
strikers would simply be to place a
premium upon strikes in the future.
Such policy would only mean the
placing Of the entire transportation
industry at the mercy of the en-
ployes
81 think that the President was
moved to make his suggestions, not
by reason Of the conditions in the
transportation industry, which is
functioning almost at normal, but
because Of the ccal situation. His
fear is not as to inability of the
railways to move the coal, but OF
the failure OF the miners to contrl-
butte supply Of this essential COM
modify. Tie whole country is de-
pending upon the non~union fields
Of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee
and Alabama. This places an un-
usual burden upon the railways in
that territory
$50 far az the Central Of Georgia
is concerned, it is a fact that only a
very few Of our old men came back
to work on August third. Naturally
more Of them will report as time
passeg. As has been repeatedly
stated, they could have returned
today with the full enjoyment OF
ali their seniority rights end prlvl-
leges, everything in fact for which
Itheir national organization was con-
tending. They were not permitted
10 DO so by their organizations,
which puts them in the position
Of contending for something for
other people elsewhere at consider
able loss to themselves.
eve have started campaign
for new men and we will have no
difficulty in filing our forces with
experienced men. Not less than
twenty five went to work the first
day. Our facilities are in fine shape
our motive power has been kept
in first class condition. our trains
are moving on time, and the peo-
pie dependent upon the Central of
Georgia for transportation will find
us carrying out that obligation with
out interruption. +"