Evening journal., 1922-08-19

seniority and its advantages have
been surrendered; when strikes
have been settled seniority has
been restored.
Wanted Fresh start
Tn the tentative proposal which
I sponsored II was provided that
everybody should go TO work. with
seniority rights unimpaireu, and
there should be no discrimination
by either workmen or carriers
against workmen who did or did
not strike. realized that the pro-
posal must carry a disappointment
10 employees who had inherited
promotion by staying Loyalty on
the Job, and 10 such new men as
had sought jobs looking to perma-
nent employment, Out 1 wanted
the fresh start and maintained
transportation service and / ap-
praised the disappointment of the
few TO be less important than the
impending misfortune TO the ma
tion II was not what I would ask
ordinarily TO be considered or con-
ceded, but at that moment OF deep
anxiety. with the coal shortage
gravely meDacing. was thinking
OF the pressing demands OF the
welfare OF the whole people.
II believe the sacrifice brought
TO the men involved could be am
ply compensated for by the car
riers in practical ways. I believed
that the matter OF transcendant
importance was the acceptance Of
the proposal 10 respect the Labor
which formed the issue at the time
OF the strike. The public COM
pensation would be complete in
guarding by law against recur-
renee.
Governments Only Recourse
The proposal was rejected by
the carriers. Though the rejection
did not end all negotiation. It left
the government only one course
TO call the striking workmen TO
return 10 work. TO call the carriers
TO assign them to work and leave
the dispute about seniority TO the
Labor Board for decision. When
negotiation or mediation fails. this
Is the course contemplated by the
law and the government can have
no chart for its course except the
law.
"To this call a majority OF the
carriers responded favorably. pro-
posing to re-employ all strikers
except those guilty OF violence
against workmen or property. to
restore the striking workmen TO
their old positions where vacant.
or to like positions where vacan-
cies are filed; questions Of sem
iority which cannot be settled be-
tween the employer and employee
to go to the Labor Board for de-
cision. The minority of the car
riers proposed TO assign Jobs tc
workmen on strike only where
the positions were vacant. Neither
proposal has been accepted.
Contempt for Law.
Thus the narrative brings us
10 the present moment. but il has
not included the developments
which have heightened the gov
ernments concern. Sympathetic
strikes have developed here and
there. seriously impairing inter
state commerce.
Deserted transcontnental trains
in the desert regions of the South
west have revealed the cruelty
and contempt for law on the part
OF some railway employees, who
have conspired 10 paralyze trans
portation. and lawlessness and
violence in a hundred places have
revealed the failure OF the strik-
ing unions to hold their forces to
law observance.
Men who refused to strike and
who have braved insult and assault
and risked their lives to serve a
public need. have been cruelty at
tackled and wounded or killed.
Men seeking work and guards
attempting 10 protect lives and
property. even officers of the Fed
eral Government, have been as
saulted. humiliated and hindered
in their duties.
Strikers have armed them
selves and gathered in mobs about
railroad shops TO offer armed vio-
lence TO any man attempting TO go
to work.
"There's a state of lawlessness |
shocking TO every conception of
Amerncan law and order and vio- !
lating the cherished guarantees of ]
American freedom. At no time
has the Federal Government been |
unready or unwilling to give its
support to maintain law and order |
and restrain violence. but in no
case has State authority confessed |
its inability to cope with the sit
uation and asked for Federal as
sistance.
Under these conditions of hin |
drance and intimidation there has
been such a lack of care of motive |
power that the deterioration of
locomotives and the non-com-
pliance with the safety require
ments of the law are threatening |
the breakdown Of transportation