The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-11-04
GRAHAM HEARS
GRIEVANCES Of
ROAD STRIKERS
Mass Meeting Infsrnel.of Results
Of . Conference He'd With
Congressman

The Silvis federated shops COM
mittee today issued the following
statement to the press:
"At the mass meeting Of strik-
ing railroad shopmen. and their
families yesterday. report by the
federated committee on the con-
ference held with Congressman w.
J. Graham was made. At this con-
ference with Mr.. Graham the COM
mittee was asked for an expression
of views on the railroad situation
and the transportation act of 1920.
SO that the congressman might
take note of any changes desired
by the railroad shopmen. He was
told of the many grievances of the
shopmen due to the transportation
act and the United States Railroad
labor board. which is a part OF
that act; of how the railroads had
opposed the establishment Of re-
gional boards of adjustment COM
posed of practical railroad men as
provided for in that act with the
result that the railroad labor
board was flooded with cases of
both the employees and the rail-
roads and causing months OF de-
lay in adjusting these differences
between the railroads and their
employee. Mr.. Graham was told OF
the Rock Island railroads prac-
tice of placing its own interpreta-
tions on the decisions of the labor
boards and of the labor boards
failure to enforce decisions on the
railroad. The committee in
formed the congressman that If we
must have the transportation act,
then steps should be taken to see
that fair dealing to employees was
to be had at the hands of the labor
board. The committee recommend
ed the appointment of practical
railroad men as members of rail-
road labor board in place of the
politicians who are now members
Of the board and who know nothing
about railroad work. They also
urged the establishment of regional
adjustment boards as provided for
in the transportation act and
which has in the past been~so bit
terly opposed by the railroads. The
committee related at length and in
detail the many grievances of the
local shopmen. Mr. Graham, being
chairman of the committee inves-
tigating war-fraud cases, was in
formed of the wasteful practices
of the Rock Island in its efforts
to discredit government control OF
the railroads during the war peri
cd. The committee told of the de-
liberate destruction of valuable ma
terial such as valves. pumps, rolls
of roofing, and thousands of track
shims, which was destroyed at SH-
Wis with sledge hammers and fire
He was told of the efforts of the
committee to prevent this willful
waste, who took the matter up with
the local management and were
successful at least in preventing
the further destruction OF materia
at fhis point. The congressman
was also told of how the railroad
was content to pay employees the
TWO nOurS LlMe OIL ioT 'oeinS as
prescribed by the election laws
during the period OF government
control and of refusal to continue
this practice after the road was
returned to private management.
Congressman Graham lent a
very attentive ear to the federated
shop crafts committee during this
conference and while he did not
suggest any remedial legislation
he took many notes and promised
to do all he can to bring about the
necessary changes in the law, SO
that the railroad shopmen may Sc
cure Justice in the future.
"The mass meeting was attend
ed by 500 shopmen and their wives
and daughters and on the whole
was one of the most enthusiastic
meetings that has been held since
the inception of the strike. The
mass meeting voted unanimously
to continue the strike on the ROCK
Island until this railroad recog-
nized the right of the employees te
organize and bargain collectively