The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-05-20

les Wherever shortage OF meCnan-
les existed. III 5>a5i /. 81 as g.
THE concessions granted to the
government by the labor organiza-
tions at this time could not have
been obtained by the railroad man
agements under any conditions.
The employees had previously re-.
fused to make similar concessions
to the railroad corporations because
of their belief that once they gave
up these privileges they would never
be restored under private control"
The savings resulting to the rail-
roads from these concessions by
employees appropriated $5O,O0O,O0O
a year. Mr.. McAdoo says. ~
Mr.. McAdoo presented to the Sen:
ate Committee official reports of
distinguished railroad officials at
testing the patriotism and effici-
ency Of labor. 49,.
Officials Pay Tributes.
Regional Director Ashton, who
prior to federal control was presi-
dent Of the Chicago & Northwest
ern Railroad and is now president
of the American Railway Associa-
ton, in his report for 1918, testifies
Ito the loyal and effective support
given at all times by = -" en-
ployees." In his 1919 report Mr..
Ashton expressed most sincere ap-
probation for the splendid, loyal
and efficient support givenat all
times by the officers and employees
of all railroads in the Northwestern
region"
A. H. Smith is one of the leading
railroad executives of the country.
Before federal control he was presi-
dent of the NewNYork Central. He
was made regional director Of the
eastern district by Mr.. McAdoo and
continued in that capacity for many
months. At the conclusion of his
public service he returned to the
New York Central as it's head, and
since has. been regarded as an au-
thorized spokesman for the Associa-
ton of Railway Executives.
In his report Of operations for
1913 Mr.. Smith said:
MEN had their hands. feet and
faces frozen digging out trains
stalled on the line or endeavoring to
get trains over the road; office, shop
and other forces turned out volun-
tarily to help shovel snow and Sice
from yards and switches, and Off
GERS and employees remained on du-
ty for long periods under the most
trying conditions. without question,
rejecting a spirit of self-secrifice in
I l. q 1ofnrYoo n a..
tion'to contribute as fully as possible
in bringing the war to a successful
conclusion"
Every regional director, all of
whom were and are now among the
foremost railroad executives, paid
similar tribute to the loyalty and
efficiency Of the workers during the
most trying years Of the nations
history. i.
"Largest Return in History"
The facts are that during the per-
iod of federal control the workers
received LESS pay than any other
class Of industrial Aforkers doing
similar work" Testimony Of Mr..
McAdoo, before Interstate Com
merce Commission), and in return
gave "the largest return per man
hour in. the history Of the railroads,
so far as comparable records are
available" (report of Mr. Hines to
the President, March, 1900
Instead Of Stacking" as has been
charged by certain railroad execu-
tives and their spokesman, railroad
workers gave up privileges and con-
cessions long enjoyed, and through
out the entire period of the war
stood by their jobs and worked 10y
ally and efficiently" (NcAdoo's
testimony
The record of the workers, Mr..
McAdoo declares, speaks for itself.
mo stronger refutation of the
charge that railroad men were inef-
ficient or Indifferent to the inter-
ests of the Railroad Administration
and of their country in it's great
| emergency could be adduced," Mr.
| McAdoo told the senate committee.
What I have said applies to all
employees Of the railroads. who, with
patriotism and zeal, served their
country in that great time"