Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-08-04
Winburn's Statement.

WubuTn 2A@ASiAS1-N'
To have accepted President Hard
mos suggestions concerning seniori-
+. riobts of strikers would have
meant that railways would in future
No oaeratsd under terms laid down
by tne union, and at the expense OF
tne lublic. according to a statement
lv W. A. Wnburn, president of the
central Of Georgia Railway.
Mr.. Wmbura5 says: The accept
onca Of President Harding's sugges-
tions by the railway executives would
not have meant permanent indus
trial peace. On the contrary it
would have meant nothing less than
a complete surrender to the domina-
ton Of union labor. The inevitable
result would have been contrary to
the public interest in that all proper
ty and every peaceful pursuit must
be subordinate to the demands of
a privileged class, and the railways
would have to operate under terms
laid down by the unions at the eX-
pense of the public. The people
should understand that in making
their unanimous decision the execu-
lives were not moved by sentiment,
but adopted the only policy that will
enable them to serve the best in
terests of the public.
Many railroads have already fill
ed their ranks with capable men who,
Notwithstanding assertions to the
contrary, will remain at their work
and whp will do it well. Naturally
it would be unfair to discharge these
men who have performed a public
service, and who have enabled the
people to travel and to carry on their
business. 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.
Il think that the president was
moved to make his suggestions, not
by reasons of the conditions in the
transportation industry, which is
1unctloning almost at normal, but be-
cause Of the coal situation. His fear
Is not as to inability of the railways
10 move coal, but Of the failure of
the miners to contribute supply of
this essential commodity. The whole
country is depending upon the nom
union fields Of Kentucky, Virginia,
tennessee and Alabama. This places
an unusual burden upon the RAILWAYS
IN that territory.
so far as the Central of GEORGIA
Is concerned, it is fact that only
a very few of our old men came
pack TO work on August 3. Natural.
~ more Of them will report as time
passes As has been repeatedly
stated, they could have returned to-
Gay with the full enjoyment of all
lnef seniority rights and privileges,
everything IN fact for which their
.@1lon$ organization was contend
I"s. Ihey We're not permitted to do
-, 10 by IneT organizations, which puts
sneh IN the position of contendinp
I,. IJf something for other people else.
selves. '''' " 'heiii'
We have started a campaign for
a,,. s" men and we will have no diff
gu,y IN filling our forces with ex-
PeL!eneed Pc men. Not less than TWEEN.
G 5s-l'ye went to work the first dav
oUE facilities are in fine shane orr
he "lo'''e power has ben kept in first
eI@S@ condition, our trains are NOV
ars my On time, and the people depend.
tn' upon the Central of Georgia for
transportation t will find us carrvina
rupti0n." Without inter-