The New York herald., 1922-08-03

ployees now on strike' to include all em-
nloyees who hold seniority rights under
the rules agreed upon between the car
riers and the organizations of employees
or as promulgated by the uted states
Railroad Labor Board.
Making COncessions,
1T should be understood that in act
ing favorably upon the proposals iot
settlement OF the pending controversies
the representatives of the organized
employees feel that they are making con-
cessions and sanctienIng sacrifices on
the part of the employees which entitis
them to the highest consideration and
to recognition as law abiding American
citizens, who are ready and willing ~
do all in their power. even beyond that
which is strictly reasonable, In order to
promote industrial peace and to further
the uninterrupted flow of the commerce
of the nation.
1--WE see. evidence of little sacrifice
required on the part OF the manage
ments to whom like proposals have beer
submitted. They will suffer no loss IN
abandoning a host of futile lawsuits
complaining of wrongs which have never
been committed. 1t Is understood thai
the Labor Board must confirm Its pre-
viousiy announced position and that the
railways must abandon the condemned
practice of contracting out work from
shops and restore the employees to theiI
former status. 1t should be noted thai
this practice is not only violation OF
the transportation act and OF the de-
cisions of the board, but, as shown by
many decisions of the courts, is a vio-
lation of the charter obligations of the
railroads and would have been unlawful
without the passage of the transporta-
tion act or any action by the Labor
Board.
Look Merely with Hope.
1--WE understand that an effort will be
made to insure the getting up of a
board of adjustment. but inasmuehs as
such board can function effectively
only with the full cooperation of both
managements and employees, we can
look merely with hope and not with
certainty for the establishment Of this
essential part of the machinery to decide
disputes between the carriers and their
employees, In the meantime, upon advice
from you of the expressed acceptance OF
your terms of agreement contained IN
your telegram of July 81, by all car
riers. we will take the responsibility OF
directing the employees to return to
work and upon the confidence that by
action of the labor board upon rehearins
of the recent contreverted decisions q
delayed justice will be rendered to the
employees in the matter of wages and
working conditions
I'VE should certainly assume that the
railway executives, In their own obvious
interest. eventually will accept the pro.
posals made, unless their counsels are
dominated sufficiently by anti-label
forces to resist even the pressure of pub
lie opinion exerted through your higf
office and to carry on to the bitter enc
nihilistic policy of attempting to de
stroy the seif-protecting, democratic In
stitutions of organized labor.
I'VE can hardly believe that such &
counsel of folly will finally prevail with
in the railroad managements. II there
fore appears that upon the organiza
tions of railway executives and EN-
ployees rests the immediate responsi
bility OF serving the public interests IL
bringing about a resumption of efficien
operation of the railroads.
Under pressure of this responsibilitS
we have voted by the requisite constitu
tional majority to accept the terms 0.
agreement which you have submitted L
US. We accept reluctantly, IL Is true
but commit ourselves to carry out tn,
terms of settlement In utmost good faiti
and in aid of the general welfare. Il
these proposals fail to bring about tn,
results which you desire. the respon
sibillty OF failure will not rest upon tn,
representatives OF the organized EN-
ployees,"