Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-02-03
RAILWAYS SHOULD
NOT BE.:Bt0CkED
MORAL OBLIGATION RESTS UPON
EMPLOYEES Ard ROADS TO
KEEP WHEELS ROLLING
Vice Chairman OF Labor Board Doing
All Possible to Avoid Clash Be.
tween Rail Workers and
Their Employers

Boston,--Iiallway arrangements and
their Employees have moral obligation
10 avoid interruption of traffic and the
United States nilroad labor board is
endeavoring to lead both carriers and
railworkers TO carry out this obllga-
ton. Ben w Hooper. vice chairman
OF the labor board, declared Friday
before the Boston chamber OF COM
merce.
Mr. Hooper, G.. w. w. Hanger, pub
He member, and w. l.. McMenmen,
labor member of the board, were guests
OF the chamber at a luncheon, where
Mr.. Hooper voiced the opinion that
America had passed through ''the win
ter of our discomfort" and was now
standing on tlptoe, with the slogan
of the vernacular on her lips. Let's
co."
''The hard pull Is over" the former
governor of Tennessee said. "The
farmer Is the only man In the country
who rms really Debated. He alone did
not have the parachute OF organization
to retard his decent and break his
fall. The next time this country takes
an international joyride in the Zeppc-
lin of war, the farner will have. his
parachute along with him and Will not
be invited TO step out on a storm cloud
and slide down rainbow"
Mr.. Hooper said he expected the
number of railway employees to be
largely increased In the spring, that
revenues would he enlarged by In
creased business ana that conditions
would probably Justify reduction OF
rates (Which is so essential to the res
toratioh Of normal bulness."
In return TO normal, Governor Hoop.
er said, the railroads had accomplished
the transition without kny general
strike or serious disturbance.
AS q rule, both managemcnts ana
employees have .cooperated cordially In
carrying out the transportation act.
MIR. Hooper said. '"rhls has not been
easy for either side. The railroads
have had TO contend with financial
difficulties. and have been continually
subjected to the temptation of taking
the bit In their teeth and trying to get
relief by independent action more
quickly THAI the labor board consid-
cred 1t just aud reasonable to give 10
them Only a few carriers have sue.
curnbed to this temptation and dlscon-
tent have resulted.
THE complaints OF the employees
have been that certain carried, to avoid
dealing with labor organizations, have
disregarded the rights Of the majority
guaranteed by the transportation act,
that certain carriers have evadcl the
boards wage orders by having receIv-
ers In charge put into effect wage or
ders OF the courts without submitting
the matter to the board and that GER
tain carriers have evaded the wage de.
cisions OF the board by contracting OIL
claiming to contract certain classes
Of their work to independent contrat.
tors.
whatever may be the merit OF these
contentious of the employees, 1t Is evil
dent that they involve provocative sit
uations. Under somewhat trying cir
cumstanCes, the employees have exhibit
ed commendable self-restraint.
ION the other hand, practically al
the carriers have promptly put int
effect decisions of the labor boar,
with which they were not in thorough
accord and have struggled PATIENT.
and courageously with discouragin
conditions.
THE question will occur TO you, vii
the fear of condemnation of publ
sentiment always secure the obedlenc
of the parties to the decisions Of tn
railroad labor board. or will Their
come FL time when powerful motives q
self Interest will induce one or tn
other to trample underfoOt the board
decisions and override public opinion
at must not he forgotten that ther
are some labor leaders and certain Il
bOr periodicals which persistent
preach the disquletlng doctrine tia
the toIIers OF this country cannot tru,
THE courts ana tribunals having iur
distlon OF their troubles The raiIroa
labor Board, If moved by porfoun
desire to do justice, may largely coul
teract shFs destructive preacment, ar
that without stopping over like mel
resthenc parlOr communist"