The New York herald., 1922-08-22
LABOR ASKS MONEY
TO HELP SHOPMEN
Declares Men on Strike Are
Fighting Bankers Who
Rule Railroads.
JUSTICE SHALL PREVAIL
Federation Declares 1t Has
Kept Faith With the
Labor Board.
JUSTICE SHALL PREVAIL
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK rlrsALp.
New York Herald Bureau.

-
Special Dispatch to THE NEW York 'lsaALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. Aug. 2I.
The American Federation of Labor.
through its executive council, headed by
Samuel Gompers. issued nationwide
appeal to-day on behalf OF the member
ship of the seven federated shop crafts,
which, the appeal declares, are fighting
the battle of organized labor throughout
the country against small group OF
bankers who dominate the railroad ex-
ecutives
Urging the fullest moral and financial
aid for the striking shopmen the call.
United States declares the strike Is due
primarily to the attempt Of the power
full group of bankers who control the
finances of the railroads to destroy
unionism.
1t intimated strongly that it was be-
cause of the influence of this group that
the striking shop crafts found 1t impos-
sible to adhere to the declarations of
the railroad labor board, inasmuch as
these declarations would upset fair
wages" would nullify reasonable work.
ing conditions and destroy the right OF
organization.''
Text Of Call Adopted
aid unanimously adopted by the execu-
tive council
"The executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor addresses this
appeal to all organized labor throughout
America in behalf of the organizations
in the railway employees department
whose members are now on strike to
resist tho imposition of unfair terms
and conditions of employment.
THE struggle in which these workers
are involved is one which is important
not only to themselves and to their or
ganizations, but to all organized work
ers and to all Americans VINO love JUS
tice and fair dealing.
IAN injustice cannot be inflicted upon
tho railroad workers without leaving its
mark Of shame upon the record OF our
whole industrial life. 1t is essential to
the welbeing Of the man on strike, to
the wellbeing of all workers and the
the wellbeing of our national Industrial
organization that Justice shall prevail
in the struggle now going on In the rail-
road industry.
1T must be clear to all wage earncrs
and to all thinking men and women that
the policy which has been pursued by
the policies OF all organizations OF en-
ployers which. since the armistice, have
been seeking to weaken and destroy the
voluntary organizations Of the workers.
The railroads have been engaged In this
effort from the moment Government
control was relnquished on March l.
1920.
Tried to Keep Faith
For two and half years the rail-
road workers now on strike made every
possible effort to keep faith with the
railroad labor board in order to give
the law every possible trial and to se-
cure, IL possible. just conditions for the
workers and continuous operation OF the
roads.
.No amount Of conscientious effort
and forbearance on the part OF the
workers. however could overcome the
attitude and the policies dictated by the
small but powerful group Of bankers
who control the finances of the railroads
and who have compelled the adoption by
the railroads OF the policy Of bitter an
tagonism to the organizations OF the
workers
FINALLY the declarations of the board
compelled resistance on the part OF the
workers through suspension OF work
wage OF 23 cents an hour was established
for section men, and this wage is the
basis upon which all other wages are
calculated. In addition to this the
board ordered the abolition of the pay
ment Of time and half for work done
or Sundays and holidays. 1t was
sought to impose grave injustices upon
the workers through rulings OF the labor
board. while the railroads had consist
entity violated and repudiated rulings
of that board from the beginning.
"The railroad shop workers are on
strike in an endeavor to secure living
wage for the maintenance Of the AIneri-
can standard Of living. They are on
strike for the maintenance of reasonable
working conditions and for the mainte-
nance of the right Of organization.
'It goes without saying that financial
assistance is needed. especially when
IL is recalled most II not all of the or
ganizations of employees now on strike
have thousands OF members engaged in
other Industries who have been. or who
are now. also on strike. Therefore their
financial position is at present incapa-
BILE of meeting the barest wants of their
needy, struggling men and their families.
"Fighting Fight of All"
"rt is to be hoped that every union
and it's membership, individually and
collectively. will again demonstrate its
solidarity by coming generously and
Immediately to the assistance of the
striking railway shop craft organiza-
itons. They are fighting the fight Of
all workers They should have all OF
the moral and financial assistance
which our movement can give. and your
executive council earnestly hopes that
your action will be as prompt and az
generous as the circumstances warrant"
Irnr0 YT,C IN mn UnNE