The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-22
for
Rail Peace
Given Jolt
Policy Of Roads Scored

Washington. Aug. 2l.-An appeal
hY the American Federation oi
Labor 20 itt 100000 members 10
give moral and financial support 20
The railroad shopmcns STRIKE served
Ia JOLT eonddsfsbis the optimism in
administration quarters that rho
strike would be settled al the media
ton conference between the railroad
bfoihrfhoods officials and railway
epeeuiiyes a. the New York con
ference this week.
Following the statement Issued by
Samuel G0mpsff. president of The
American Federation ot Labor
Saturday. declaring President Hard
ing's address ~ congress on the in-
dHstfial situation 20 have been "un-
fortunate" and predicting tina, Il
would restrain rather than facilitate
the peace negotiations. the sNecu-s
iiys council Of the federation this
afternoon issued the appeal for wide
spread support Of the strike.
Text OF Appeal
The federation appeal addressed 70
all organized labor" 10 IN part as
follows.
"The executive council of the
American Federation Of Labor ad.
dresses this appeal TO all organized
lsbor throughout America IN behalf
Of the organizations IN the railway
employee department. whose mem
bsfs ar, now on strike 20 resist The
imposition Of unfair terms and con
di,ions of employment
1T must be clear 20 all wage
eafners and 10 aft thinking men and
women that the policy which has
been pur,usd by the railroads has
been entirely IN harmony with the
policies Of all organizations Of er1-
ployers which. since the afnistiee.
have been seeking 20 weaken and
destroy the voluntary organizations
Of the WORKERS.
co-opers,ion Attempted.
"Th. railroads have been engaged
IN this effort from the moment gov
efnwent control was reiinquished on
March I, 1920.
For two and q half years the
railroad workers now on strike,
made every possible effort 10 60.
operate with the railroad labor
board, in order 20 give the law
every possible trial and TO secure,
Il possible. just ends for the workers
and continuous operation OF the
roads.
NO amount of CONSCIENTIOUS d-
fort and forbeafanee on the par. Of
the workers, however, could over
come the attitude and the policies
dictated by the small but powerful
group Of bankers who control tbs
finance OF the railroads and who
have compelled the adoption by the
railroads OF policy Of bitter antag-
onism 10 the organizations Of Ahc
workers.
Raps Labor Board.
Finally, the decisions OF the
board compelled resistance on the
part Of the workers through sus-
pension OF work. A wage Of q cents
an hour was established for section
men and this wage is the basis upon
which all other wages are calculated.
In addition to this, the board or
dercd the abolition OF the payment
Of time and a half for work done on
Sundays and holidays. II was sought
10 impose grave injustices upon the
workers through rulings Of the la.
Dor board, while the railroads bad
consistently violated and repudisted
rulings OF the board from the be-
ginning"
Reports persist here that the rail
strike, If ended by the negotiations
now in progress, would be settled by
means OF "a gentleman's agreement"
Notwithstanding the denial OF T. De
Witt Cuyier, president OF the Asso-
citation OF Railway Executives, IL was
reported on good authority that the
under consideration pro-
vided means for both sides TO
save their faces"
Neither Side 10 Yield.
In other words, neither side will
yield IN principle" regarding the
issue. The seniority ques-
ton will remain technically unsettled,
but the men will 20 back to work
under 'gentleman's agreement"
that they will get back the old places
or jobs equally as good--that is, II
the reported basis OF settlement goes
through.
Senator Bofah Of Idaho sent a
telegram 70 Mr., Cuyler.
May | respectfully urge all who
shall convene on Wednesday 10 con-
slider ways Of settling the strike that
II this time throughout the fruit and
potato regions OF the west there 10
shortage OF cars and an
utter inability 10 move these perish-
ahle nrnIuelk 10 the market