Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-10-29

| its freight and passenger rates to
meet the new expense. Increases
were granted based on a certain
volume of business, but the eX
4 pected increase in earnings did not
come, due to the slump in business
and the railroads were left with
the higher wages and without suf-
| ficient increased revenue to meet
the greatest cost.
During 1921 the depression con-
tinued and gradually public opinion
decided that this depression was
due in part to high freight rates,
and an insistent demand arose for
| lower rates. The cost of living
had in the meantime fallen and the
railroads asked the labor board to
take off the increase in wages that
had been granted in 1920. A cut
was finally allowed of about one
| half the amount requested. This
decrease was acquiesced in by all
parties, although some of the en-
ployes thought it unjustified.
Depression Continued.
"The depression in business con-
tinued and finally the interstate
commerce commission granted a
10 per cent reduction in all freight
rates, which meant that unless the
costs of conducting transportation
could be brought down bankruptcy
| for some roads was inevitable. The
roads therefore renewed their re-
quest to the labor board for a
further reduction. The strike fol-
lowed
"By the loyal assistance Of the
entire Santa Fe staff we have sue
ceeded in carrying on transporta-
ton with credit to you and with
justice to the public. :, We have
done this under discouraging con-
ditions, such as lack of protection
from local peace officers. AS
consequence our loyal employees
have been subjected to violence,
our new employees have been re-
fused food and accommodations by
the local people OF the towns, and
on the desert some of our train
and enginemen so far forgot their
contracts as to join with the strik7
ers for a time. Happily that is
past and I think these very men
are ashamed of the part they as
sumed. We are still compelled to
keep guards about our plants and
there is more or less violence,
Within two weeks bombs have
been exploded in houses Of en-
ployes and dynamite has been
found on locomotives.
Strike Is Over.
"But the strike is over. On most
parts of the system we have more
men than before the strike. They
are good class of workmen and
they will be retained in their places
as long as they can acceptably fill
them. We have received petitions
from townspeople at various points
asking If it is not possible to settle
the strike. To those the reply has
been made that the men left our
service of their own accord and
they are free to come back at any
time they desire provided there are
vacancies, and provided, always,
that they have not been guilty of
conduct that would make them un-
desirable as employees.
I'VE recognize that many of
them are good steady men--men
of families and good citizens-but
they have been misled by their
leaders. We are sorry for such
sorry for their families-but they
are men and they must assume
the responsibility for their acts.
Attitude Toward Unions.
"And now I wish to say a few
words as to the attitude OF the
Santa Fe toward the unions. We
are not opposed to them as unions
as Is evidenced by our agreements
extending over many years with |
the four train brotherhoods. I'm
fortunately all unions are not con-
stituted alike, but I can definitely
say that If the telegraphers' union |
in 1900 and the Jshopmen's union |
in 1904 had been governed by the
same spirit that has actuated the |
four train brotherhoods there |
would have been no strikes on our
road. and had the leaders Of the |
shopmen recognized that economic |
laws must ultimately govern there |
would have been no shipments |
strike this year.
Unfortunately men, and es-
pecially the younger men, lose |
sight of everything except the |
power they think they have by rea-
son of being Joined together. They |
have the feeling that If they only |
stick together they can compel any
wage or any condition to be ac-
cepted by their employers-and
some Of them delude themselves
into thinking they are really worth
more than they are receiving and
that any action they may take is
justified to get 1t. But. in the long
run, the question of ultimate cost
must be taken into account.
II wish to say further that the
Santa Fe wants its employees to re-
ceive the highest wage possible.
and 1t has always paid as high
wages as its neighbors. Before the
government control we paid out to
our shopmen 10 per cent or more !
nf ntlr nav rn11 harttca. Co.,