Evening journal., 1922-08-19

sponsibility Of the States own
government. In such voluntary
activities as have been carried on
thus far the Federal Government
has endeavored to re-establish the
authority and responsibility in the
States which was undermined in
the necessary Capitalization OF
authority during the World War.
The Shop Crafts Strike.
The public menace in the coal
situation was made more acute
and more serious at the beginning
of July by the strike OF the fed
Grated shop crafts in the rail
road service-a strike against a
wage decision made by the Rail
road Labor Board directly affect
ing approximately 100000 men.
The justice OF the decision IS not
for discussion here. The decision
has been lost sight of in subse-
quent developments. In any
event It was always possible to ap-
peal for rehearing and the sub
mission OF new evidence. and Il Is
always a safe assumption that a
government agency Of adjustment
deciding unjustly will be quick TO
mako right any wrong.
The Railroad Labor Board was
created by Congress for the ex-
press purpose OF hearing and de-
Gliding disputes between the car
riers and their employees, so that
no controversy need lead 10 an
interruption in interstate trans
portation.
1T was inevitable that many
wage disputes should arise. Wages
had mounted upward. necessarily
and justly, during the war up
heavel: likewise the cbst Of trans
portation; so that the higher
wages might be paid. II was in
evitable that some readjustments
should follow. Naturally, these
readjustments were resisted. The
administrative government neither
advocated nor opposed. It only
held that the Labor Board was the
lawful agency OF the government
TO hear and decide disputes. and
its authority must be sustained,
as the law contemplates. This
must be so, whether the carriers
or the employees ignore its de-
clsions.
Sustained by Courts.
'Unhappily a number OF de-
cisions Of this board had been
ignored by the carriers In only
one instance. however. had a de-
cision, challenged by a carrier.
been brought to the attention of
the Department of Justice, and
this decision was promptly car
ried to the courts and has recent
ly been sustained in the Federal
Court Of Appeals. The public or
the executive had no knowledge of
the ignored decisions in order
cases, because they did not hinder
transportation. When these by
failure OF many of the carriers
10 abide by decisions of the board
were brought TO my attention.
could more fairly appraise the
feelings of the strikers. though
they had a remedy without seek
ing 10 paralyze interstate COM
merce.
The law creating the Railroad
Labor Board is inadequate. Con-
trary to popular impression. it has
little or no power to enforce its
decisions. II can impose no pen
alties on either party disregarding
its decisions II can not halt a
strike. and manifestly Congress
deliberately omitted the enactment
Of compulsory arbitration. The
decisions of the board must be
made enforceable and effective
against carriers and employees
alike. But the law is new and
no perfection Of IL by Congress
at this. moment could be helpful
in the present threatened paraly-
sis of transportation.
Attempt at Mediation
Happily il is always lawful and
oftimes possible to settle disputes
outside of court, so. in desire to
serve public welfare, ventured
upon an attempt at mediation. |
Those who had preceded me in
attempted settlements had made
some progress. l submitted to the |
officials of the striking employees
and the chairman of the Associa-
tion of Railway Executives, in
writing. on the same day, a tenta-
tive proposal for settlement. |
knowing that some of the car
riers had offended by ignoring the
decisions OF the board and the en-
ployses had struck when they
had a remedy without the strike.
I felt It was best TO start all over
again, resume work, all to agree
to abide faithfully by the boards
decisions, make it a real tribunal
OF peace in transportation, and
everybody serve the public.
THE barrier to be surmouEted
was the question of seniority. By
the workmen these rights were
held to be sacred, and until sur
rendered by a strike. BY the car
riers the preservation of seniority
is the weapon OF discipline on the
one hand and the reward of faith
ful employees on the other. At
has been an almost invariable rule
that when strikes have beer lost