The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-08-17
THE RAIL STRIKE CRISIS.

Sioux City Journal-The railroad
strike situation suddenly has assumed
threatening proportions since the eff
fort of the shopmen to influence a
general walkout on the part of other
unions. 1t is evident that all ele
ments concerned have this view Of the
controversy, the railroad executives
as well, although they are stu hold
ing on in the hope that they may be
able to defeat organized labor in a fin
ish fight. The movement under way
to influence the executives, through
their legal counsel, to accept the Hard
ing plan Of settlement, may be taken
to indicate that some railroad officials
at least are doubling that the roads
can win if the strike becomes general.
For the first time, therefore, it ap-
pears that there might be a possibility
of the roads yielding some part Of the
ground they have SO stubbornly held.
The Pennsylvania system, n OF the
most powerful lines, has been unyield-
ing from the start. 1t is credited with
holding many other roads in line on it's
policy Of making a finish fight OF the
contest with the striking shopmen,
Notwithstanding this attitude of the
"Eennsy,' it is now seen that it has
announced an explanation Of a differ
ence existing between seniority and
pension rights. The strikers and the
public are told that while the Pennsyl
vania still insists the strikers by vol.
unfairly relinquishing their jobs have
vacated their seniority rights they
have not lost their pension privileges,
which are determined by length Of ser
vice, which need not be continuous. 1t
may be inferred from that the the
Pennsylvania executives would placate
the strikers if possible; on the other
hand the strikers, who are steadfast in
their demand for recognition of sen
iority rights. probably would not be
Modified by the Pennsylvania explana-
ton. Pension privileges are of high
value, but are not considered by the
workers as being worth as much as
seniority rights.
From various sources advices filter
in that the brotherhoods are in strong
sympathy with shopmen. The likeli-
hood that the brotherhoods will join
the strike is very strong at this time,
for the labor understanding of the
railroad strategy Is that the executives
are fighting to destroy unionism abso-
lutely. Whether that is the correct inn
rnautAn az not tho ttntA,n bnVn ~ nn1
this makes the contest more determin-
ed on the labor side. Organized labor
cannot be expected to surrender all it
has gained through the years of union
development, and it certainly will not,
short of fighting the bitterest battle of
which it is capable. The railroads
might as well face that fact squarely if
they are out, as labor claims, to break
up the unions.
The peoples side of the strike con-
within the past few days, is represent
ed by President Harding, who, refrain
ing from swinging the big stick over
strikers and executives alike, is seek
an alley in congress. The govern
ment's plans are forming, and, if the
strike develops a transportation tieup,
they will be put into effect. Congress
is in session and ear speedily enact
the necessary legislation empowering
the president to take over the lines and
operate them. A settlement may be
reached before this is done, for, once
the railroads see that congressional
legislation is on the way, they may
yield on seniority rights and accent
the original Harding proposal that
was acceptable to the men. feature
of the present situation that may have
a powerful effect on a settlement is
the difference in attitude Of the ex-
ecutives and the men toward govern
ment control of the lines. The rail
circumstances if it can be avoided,
and The Journal believes they will do
almost anything within reason to pre-
vent it; the workers are eager for the
government to take any step what
ever in the direction of operating the
transportation systems. What the
railroad men really want is govern
ment ownership, and they reason that
government control in a strike emer-
gency eventually might result in that
kind of development. Considering all
these things, it is possible to say that
the railroad strike situation is now
ready to come to a head. A quick
settlement may result as the crisis
grows more tense, but how the con-
troversy is to end none can say.
There are too many elements interest
ed and concerned for any one OF them
to decide.