The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-31
(sy A. o. peweese.)

The Outlaw order OF the railroad la
Der board must be rescinded, not only in
the interest of peace but In justice to
| men who have grown old in the transpor-
| tation service of the country.
None but an autocratic bureau without
| sympathy for the rights of the common
people would assume such an arbitrary
attitude on matter that is of such vital
importance to thousands of men who
have earned seniority and pension rights
as a result of long terms of faithful and
efficient service.
Duty to Right Wrong.
It is the duty of the government to
right this proposed wrong in order to
pave the way for peace in the transpor-
tation world. If the reward for which
men have toiled through a life time of
hazardous and arduous service can be
blown away over night by the breath of
little group Of bureaucrats then the rail-
roads must pay price for service, from
day to day and from week to week, that
win insure their faithful employees against
want and hardship when old age robs
them of their earning capacity.
Wolf From Door.
Assurance of a pension that will keep
the wolf from the door and guarantee
that they will not be turned adrift the
moment they are not quite as active as
they once were has been an important
factor In building up a force of men who
have made the American railroad business
the wonder and envy of the world. If this
reward is to be withdrawn, or if the en-
ployes can be robbed Of it overnight BY
unfriendIy dictators. then the railroads
must pay from day to day in sufficient
volume to insure similar protection.
The "OutIaw' Order.
If the Outlaw order is permitted to
stand, arbitration will have forfeited re-
spect and confidence not only of the rail-
road employees but of all organized
groups of workers, and that will be an
exceedingly bad thing for the industrial
future Of the Countrywide one really use
full weapon for the settlement Of such
disputes will have been needlessly aban-
doned.
No Future Reward.
If every humane element is to be sub
@racted from the transportation business
and the whole proposition placed upon a.
dollars and cents basis, that is going to
be expensive for the railroads, and the
public is going to have to foot the bills
II there is to be no future reward for
meritorious service then the railroads
cannot expect their employees to take
unusual interest in their work: rob a /
man of ambition and you have robbed
him Of his most valuable asset as AMI
ernploye.
Take Pride In Work.
The employees have been largely respon- |
sible for the splendid record of economy |
that has been achieved since the roads |
were returned to private control, they
have taken pride in cooperating in reduc- |
ing expenses and in keeping the rolling !
stock in shape and bringing the trains
through on time. Such loyalty should not |
be spurned.
But back of the influence of such a |
course in the future the fact remains that
today the government. through the orders
of attempting to cheat the men out of |
that which they have already earned, and
that is poor business for the government /
to be in. Neither the railroads of the |
government can give back to these men
The years that they have been spent in |
railroad service, years that would enable |
them to make a success in some other |
line of endeavor where gratitude and ap-
probation have not yet been wholly sub
tracted.
Made Sacrifice.
Neither the railroad nor the govern
nent can give to these men the strength |
which they have expended in making the
American railroads the boast of the |
abroad world.
Neither of these agencies can give back
TO these men the things they have secri-
feed out of their lives with the thought
n mind that when their working days
we're over their declining years were pro-
vided for, and their comfort assured.
Seniority Protection.
One might expect such a policy from
individual, but we shall
have a right to expect something better,
something finer. from the government in
which each individual places his trust and
which he has right to believe will at
east accord him a square deal at all
lines.
No doubt the many railroads would
,e glad to turn adrift many Of the men
whom they have already sucked dry, and
chose oniy protection is their seniority
.irths which have now been placed in
enoardv by the OUTLAW" order of the
abor board. II
Very likely some of the roads would
valcone an opportunity to be rid of the
,ension obligations which have been pill
ng I'D as a reward for exceptional service
hiring a long period of years, but this
wrong should not be permitted
Dreaming of Past.
There are too many individuals OF
wealth in the country today who are
of a day that is dead and gone
-hev do not yet know that labor has
,ad a rebirth and that the things that
we're acquiesced in during the past WI
ever be tolerated again by the toiling
masses.
Those who labor with head ana heart
nd hand know that the fruits OF their 4
,bor are sufficient to amply reward CAPT.
al and at the same time provide Thin
elves and their loved ones something
oore than food enough to sustain life
nd garments sufficient to clothe their
aledness, Knowing that 1t is but ma
,ral that they should insist upon receiv-
4, a portion of it. 7
The Golden Cali. :
During times Of national peril individ-
rYifinnS f0Y