The labor world., 1922-07-29
LET THERE BE UNITY.

leagues OF the executive council OF the
American Federation of Labor have
made it plain that the strike Of the
railroad shopmcn is in no sense con-
flct against the government of the
United States and they denounce most
vigorously the efforts that have been
made to make it appear as if the gov
ernment is being attacked.
The workers have stopped work be-
cause the railroad labor board has
made an award in response to plea
by the railroads putting into effect
terms and conditions of employment
sought by the railroads and which the
workers are unable to accept.
The men can return to work at any
time through joint negotiation be-
tween the railroad management and
the workers, and there is nothing to
prevent the railroads from adopting
such a course at any moment. They
will not adopt that policy for reasons
we'll known to the officials of organ
lied labor. Their master, Wall street,
will not permit it.
The control of every railroad sys'
tenn in the United States is deter
mined on a national basis by a com
parativcly small group Of New York
bankers. This group is closely knit
together into a single unit through a
maze Of intcrlocking directoratcs, AM!
leadership in this combine has been
maintained through credit control by
the House Of Morgan.
The Morgan control extends not
only to the railroads but also to the
chief industries of the country which
furnish the railroads with fuel, steel,
equipment, material and supplies. Ger
tain members of the group are primar-
ilv railway directors and they constl-
tutc what may be termed "the railway
department Of this big unified finan-
cial combination. They are Thomas
Dewitt Cuyler and W. W. Attcrbury
of the Pennsylvania and l.. +. Lorce
Of the Delaware. The anti-labor poll
rics they have instituted have become
national in their application to the
roads.
Th railroad labor board has degen-
Grated into a "hand maidcn' Of the
Walt street financial group. 1t is play
ing the labor crushing game with the
Bourbon employers and rcactionary
! financial interests throughout the
country to destroy the voluntary or
ganizations of labor and to-opcn the
door for the re establishment Of an ir'
dustrial autocracy in which the work
crs would be helpless and in which
| they would be in virtue of bondage to
| the masters Of the industrial Woria
Let there be no mistake: The shop
mems strike is not against the gov
! crnmcnt of the United States. 1t is
against the Wall street interests and
their hirclings, the managers who con
| troll the railroads Of the land. With
such understanding Of the situation
the executive council Of the A. +. ot
l.. has appealed for unity and solidar
tv among the workers. 1t appeals tc
the manhood of America as follows;
"Wc call upon working people
everywhere and upon all Americans
who love justice to sustain the cause
| Of the railroad workers who ha::
ceased work as their only remaining
method Of protest against an injus
| ticc which must rank as one Of the
most reprchcns;blc which any Amcri
can industrial or political institution
has ever sought to impose.
"No workman, whether a member
of a union or not, will, if he is pos
sc$scl of true American manhood, en-
gage in any work formerly done by
men now on strike.
'No man now on strike, will, if ht
is true to the cause, conduct himself
in any but law-abiding manner.
"The cause for which the worker:
are contcnding is worthy Of every just
and proper effort that can be put
forth in it's behalf.
"Iet there be a determination ant
a solidarity which shall at the same
time bring victory in the presen-
struggle and serve notice upon reac
tionary employers and financial in
tcrcsts everywhere that there is to b'
no return to autocratic, despotic meth
DDS in American industrial life.''
AMERICA IS YET AMERICA.
Despite declarations by high placc'
! noliticinns and other spOkeSmcn fo