Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-10
CHARGES HURLED
BACK AND FORTH
At HEARING TO
CUT RAIL WAGES
Eastern Roads Present a
Mass of Data to Support
Claim for Lower Pay for
Workers in Shops,
MEMBERS C0ERCED BY
UNIONS, is ASSERTED
Carriers Spread Propaganda
Tending to Influence Pub-
lie Opinion, Is Claim of
], A, Franklin.
nnx The Associated prc.s.l

Chicago, March 9.-Charges of
hidden power in railroad labor or~
gamzations and counter charges of
influencing public opinion by pro-
paganda, enlivened days pre-
sentduon OF statistics of eastern
railroads in the wage hearings now
in progress beLore the federal rail-
road laDor board.
John G.. NaiDer, appearing fot
tho eastern railroads, offered a
mass of data in support of the
roads requests for lower wages for
shop crafts employees, asking a
graduated scale within limits to be
tlXed by the board, the carriers to
pay wages prevailing in each To-
cdlity for shop labor. Mentioning
the standard country scale asked
by b. IA. Jewell, head OF the shop
unions, Mr.. Walber remarked that
agreements could have been reach e
ed on several roads IF the men
had been free to express their
wishes"
Jewell Takes Up Challenge.
MIR. Jewell Immediately took up
the challenge, asking Mr.. Walber
W tAGllllt dllN lli1AtlAl|b AAA AVNNA So
gotiauons where the men were not
free to act.
10 do so would endanger the
union representative, Mr.. Walber
replied, but declared he would
name an instance where only his
size" saved a union negouator
from trouble because he desired to
come to an agreement with th9
carrier.
There was the Elkhart dispute"
Mr.. Walber added, where they
mot only threatened to throw him
out but to have a lynching bee.
Further attempts by Mr.. Jewell
to draw specific instances Of IN ;
ability to come to a local agreement
only brought heated assertions by
the railroad representative that
union leaders could "camouflage
their power any way they wanted
to-" but that it was felt in union
locals just the same.
Walber Explains"
President Jewell threw back the
charge that the Association OF
Railways also welded a power to
lower wages simultaneously and
to influence the public with ap-
peals for lower wages, giving saw
ings which the roads promised
should be translated into lower
freight and passenger rates. Mr..
Walber then spent fifteen minutes
carefully explaining that the rail-
roads did not act concertedly
j. A. Franklin, president Of the
boilermakers. then jumped into
the discussion.
"But you create public senti-
ment by your propaganda from the
railway association" he declared.
II wouldn't insult the public by
admitting that it was necessary to
put thoughts into their heads,
answered Mr.. Walber. "As for
propaganda, you can beat the rail-
ways seven ways from sunday on
spreading propaganda"
Both Mr.. Walber and ]. W.
Higgins, representing the western
roads, denied there was any con-
clusion in presenting the requests
for lower wages by the eastern and
western roads, the argument con-
tinuing until vice Chairman Hoop
er stopped the dispute by adjourn
ing the session.
The southeastern roads will put
representatives on the stand to-
morrow to present their pleas for
wage reductions.