The Connecticut labor news., 1922-08-11

For some weeks back the road has
 been issuing statements that its re-
 pair work has been going on apace
 despite the shopmens strike but en- gineers who have to operate the
 trains knew better, especially as to-
 the locomotives of the big type
 which because of the heavy strain
 put upon them are due for trip to
 the shop and overhaulng every week
 or two. Hardly any repairs have
 been made on this class of locomotive
 since the outside shops where they
 had been sent refused to work on
 them. The road with what little
 skilled help it has in the shops has endeavored to keep up but according
 to the engine drivers without avail and conditions have now become such as to make it absolutely necessary for their own protection at least to have a show down.
 The meeting to frame the protest was scheduled for Sunday night at
 Moose hall, but was postponed until later, yesterday, after word had been received that President Harding had summoned B. M. Jewell of the Rail- way Employees Branch of the A. F. of L., to- Washingto> for another conference at Wash. son early in the week In order not to embarrass that conference the heads of the en- gineers lodges here decided to hold off the meeting meantime and live in hope and prayer that the trains will meet with no disaster meantime One week from Sunday IS the limit placed on the abeyance of the problem, however, and if by that time some definite settlement of the trouble by which the locomotives are put into first class shape or at least in safe condition, then the trainmen are in all likelihood very liable to refuse to- operate them. Should the engineers take that stand the hremen, conduct will necessarily quit also and the road will be completely tied up.
 The New Haven men are acting more than conservatively in com parison with their brothers on other roads Sporadic walkouts of engine men have occurred on many lines during the week and thousands of complaints have been received at Brotherhood headquarters about the condition of rolling stock among which were listed hundreds from the New Haven system. As result the Brotherhood chiefs left IS up to the men themselves on the various roads to decide as they thought best as to whether they will continue to oper- ate this dangerous machinery or not. Further sanction to quit work will not be necessary.
 In a statement issued to the press today, the Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers says that even if the rail shopmen's strike Is settled to- and the men given a just for the time being, the railway problem will not be solved but oply deferred until a future transportation calamity compels the American peo- pie to face the issue. The question is, say the Engineers, whether the railways of this country are to be operated for private profit or for public service. The railroads under private ownership have been financed and managed so that they claim they combine fair rates to the farmer and other shippers with fair reatment of their employees and a reasonable return on their capitaliza- ion. So long as deficits in stock dividends are taken out of the wages of the employees and the service given he public, there will be no perman- mt industrial peace on American -ailways