Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-05
4 HOPEFUL DEVELOPMENT IN the
Rel Strike Controuersn

| \ important one, the OUTLOOK 1Or a settle
ment Of the railway shipments strike is
distinctly hopeful. Both the striking shop
men and the rail executives, in their negotia-
tions with President Harding, have pledged
themselves to abide in the future by deci-
sions of the Labor Board. This is an advance
in principle, gain in fundamentals for
| ward stride toward peaceful adjustment for
| all industrial disputes.
Refusal at first, to accept the decision
OF the Railway Labor Board, the duly estab-
| lished authority for passing upon such is
Sues was the oninous feature of the pres
emit strike. For If either or both parties
after submitting their case to a trustworthy
tribunal, flout its rulings, the saving princi-
pie of arbitration stands rejected and all
progress toward happier relationships is
stopped. In human dealings absolute JUS
tice is rarely If ever possible. Mutual adapta-
tions there must be if men are to get along;
and they who never unstiffen their necks
make life more difficult on this ever perplex-
ing planet. To the interests of the railroads
and their workmen alike it is essential that
he idea on which the Labor Board was in
stituted shall be maintained and strengthen
ed and, most important of all, it is essential
to the interests of the American public that
this shall be done.
Hence the cheering significance in the
agreement both of the shopmen and Of the
executives to obey hereafter the decisions Of
the Board. Particular differences and divers
problems Of detail remain, it is true; but
with that broad principle recognized and
made potent, these will yield in time, the
smaller matters going with the larger. Thus
the apparently troublous question of senior
ity rights can consistently be referred to the
Board. Or, II left to work itself out in the
course Of the ensuing months and years, it
will prove to be far simpler in actuality than
it now seems to be in theory; so at least
those familiar with Dractical
side of such situations. Certainly the pros
pect of a settlement is much clearer than be-
fore the White House conferences began, and
the President has scored substantially for the
common veal in securing from both sides Of
the controversy explicit recognition Of the
Labor Boards jurisdiction and authority.
That industrial disputes can be happily adj
justed and the paramount rights of the pub
lie safeguarded by this principle is we'll evil
denced in the history of it's operation through
the last quarter of a century. AS far back
1888 an arbitration law applying to inter-
state railroads was placed among the federal
statutes. But it not until the Erdman
Act came into being, some ten years later,
that the fruitful possibilities of such systems
began to be manifest That measure was
much more in the nature of the first grain
than of the full corn in the ear. 1t neither
established special agency of mediation nor
authorized anyone to tender good offices Of
his own accord. It merely provided that
in disputes between carriers and their en-
ployes, either party might call upon the
chairman of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and the federal Labor Commissioner
to offer to mediate. Then, if both sides as
scented, those two officials were to do their
best to bring about harmony Further, On
the basis of written agreement, carriers AMI
employees might submit their case to an ar
bitral board, consisting of a representative
from each side and third person selected
by these two" It was in only indefinite
terms, however, that the awards were made
legally binding. Arbitration, under this act,
was altogether voluntary, and 70" eight years
there was but onc case in which its services
were invoked. Yet, between 1907 and 1913
it called into use sixty-one times and
was the means of settling no fewer than for
ty cases. Public opinion, moreover, was
steadily reinforcing the spirit and purpose of
the law. In the summer Of 1913, in the
shadow Of portentous strike on forty-two
roads in the East, Congress passed the New
lands Act by which was created board hav-
ing power to take the initiative in both medi-
alton and arbitration. There was little If any
more of compulsion in this than in the Erd
man Act But in the course of three years
upwards of sixty controversies were satisfac-
torily closed. GIN twenty-one cases." says
the record, employees made application for
the record, "employes made application for
roads applied; in seventeen the parties made
joint application; in eight the board made
W1Cnln LnlS p6Tl0u, moreover, no SILIho OC-
Cured in any case taken up by the board.
1he concerted demands Of the railroad
brotherhoods in 1916 created an emergency
to which Congress responded with specific
legislation; but this instance stands wholly
apart from the deeper trend of principle. In
the twelvemonth ended June 80, 1916, the
Secretary of Labor and his coadjutors settled
two hundred and twenty-seven cases repre-
sentng well-nigh every major province of
industry.
These and sundry other examples which
might be adduced bear witness to the feast
bility of peaceful orderly, constructive ad-
iustment of such differences. The creation
of the existing Labor Board marked another
step forward, abundantly supported by pub
lie sentiment. And now that the decisions of
the Board are to be recognized as binding by
the parties to the pending controversy, sub
stantial victory for a great principle appears
to be won.