The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-08

number of men employed, is command
ing the attention of railroad executives
and union leaders throughout the coun-
try. The backbone OF the executives
organization which rejected the seniority
proposal made by President Harding, is
after all the Pennsylvania railroad.
Similarly the experiment being con-
Quoted by the Pennsylvania to break
down the American Federation OF Labor
is watched on every side and IN many
quarters is regarded as the true cause
of the present strike.
The Pennsylvania has organized what
are known as company unions. Inc
membership is limited to employees OF
the Pennsylvania system and the voting
for officers or Spokesman was conducted
by the railroad itself and the ballots
were arranged so that voting was by
regions instead of by crafts.
In the elections conducted by the
Pennsylvania it is admitted that a large
number of employees didn't vote and the
| figures before the labor board show that
| less than 10000 voted The American
| Federation of Labor conducted an cleo
ton and claimed that $1,000 men voted
to have that organization represent
them The Pennsylvania refused to meet
the Spokesman of the 81 900 even though
| these men were employees OF the road,
but instead made an agreement with the
representatives of the 10000 who We're
| in the company's ewes the legitimate
union which they felt they could recog-
| niZe.
Labor Board Decision.
Under the circumstances the dispute
| was carried to the labor board and both
| elections were declared void and new
| election ordered Instead of obeying
| the labor board. the PENNSYLVANIA went
| into the federal courts in Chicago and
| Judge Page issued an Injunction saying
/ the labor board had no jurisdiction over
the dispute The decision has since been
| reversed by the circuit court OF appeals
/ and is being carried to the supreme court
of the United States by the PennsYl-
| vania railroad.
| In the face of such tactics, which mean
| a prolonged fight to prevent union men
] from keeping their organization intact
/ the wage decision of the labor board
| came along and added fuel to the names
] If the labor board were to tell what Is
! in their innermost hearts they would
/ confess that they made an error or tao
| ties in fighting the wage decision OF the
/ labor board and going out on strike.
| Still thew feel that the strike has called
| attention to the uneven scales OF 1ustlce
/ which permits the railroads to hout
| the labor board and enables them in
some cases to win the protection OF the
| federal courts.
| When the strike is settled and both
sides take count of the casualties 1t VIII
| be found that labor gained less through
| the strike than it could have obtained
| through the ORDERLY processes OF the
| railroad labor board and that in tho
| end the viewpoint of the circuit eourt
| of anpeaIs of the northern district OF
Illinois win prevail. namely that the
| labor board must have the right under
the transportation act to determine w
truly represents the parties IN dispute
and that the Pennsylvania by making
an agreement with one. group OF en-
ployps cannot deprive the other grouu
of the right to negotiate IN agreement
on wages and working conditions.
Would Follow Pennsylvania.
If the Pennsylvania were to establish
successfully its company union other
roads would follow suit. The disagree
ment among the rail executives arises
| from the fact that some OF them are
| of the opinion that tactics like those
being pursued by the Pennsylvana are
| futile and are only bound TO aggravate
| labor and cause discomfort throughout
| the railroad systems of the country
! Although, for instance. the four brother
| hoods are organized in their own way
\ and the roads point to that as the am
| swer to the crv that they do not deal
with unions. the truth is the brother
| hoods are much too strong for the roads
| at present.
| Is frequently heard that if the shop
| crafts unions are crushed. the attem.
| tea establish company unions among the
| workers now members of the. four
| brotherhoods is certain. That's why the
| brotherhoods are beginning to take
| a hand in the controversy and to indi-
| cate that in a showdown the whole force
| of emnloyes may become involved.
! In the midst of these conflicting de-
| sires and influences. the administration
! is slowly coming to the conclusion that
| it cannot permit finish fieht on union
| ism or ANYTHING else while the public
suffers. The moves of President Hard
! inc are made with n recognition of the
| fact that "a fight to crush unionism
| cannot be aided by the government I'M
| dor any circumstances