The evening world., 1922-07-29

Mr. Harding feels that long step
toward permanent peace In the rail-
road industry will have been accom-
.plished by the cooperation of the rail-
roads and shopmen in the controversy
which is just being brought TO an end.
Their example is bound to be a prec-N
edent for future disputes, and that is
why Mr. Harding has labored to make
the solution come through the Labor
Board Instead Of through national or
regional agreements between roads
and their men.
The Transportation Act provides for
the creation OF regional adjustment
boards over whose decisions the United
States Labor Board has the right OF
revision. But The main points that
are to be solved in the wind-up of tho
present strike will come under thu
Labor Board itself. and while neither
the railroads nor the employees rep
resentatives have been inclined to
place much reliance on the efficacy OF
the Labor Board heretofore, they will
from now on have a different attitude
toward 1t.
The President. for instance, Is Civ
ing his attention to those decisions OF
the Labor Board which have been dis
regarded by the railroad executives.
1t will take time to get the same
measure of obedience from both sides,
but the President has saved the life
of the Labor Board, at a moment
Nyh fn hn
paw of both sides.
The settlement OF this strike there
fore, on a basis which insures respect
for the Labor Board, Is counted upon
by Mr.. Harding to make the solution
of other rail problems much easier
and to eliminate future causes of fric-
tion which might otherwise lead to
stoppage of transportation.
Rehearing by the United States
Labor Board of the wage decision is.
os course, paramount, and the union
representatives who have been talk
ing with President Harding in the last
few days have made II clear that the
decision deprived many workmen of q
living wage.
1t is an open secret that some mem
Labor Board did go too far in tho
wage cut and that a correction IN
some instances would be advisable on
the simple ground of justice rather
than on the theory of bowling to labor
TO get a settlement.
IL is likely therefore that the wage
decision will be revised after rehear-
ings, though one should not get the
impression that a definite agreement
TO that effect has been made in ad-
vance. Examination of the facts
alone leads to the conclusion that u
revision is inevitable.
AS for seniority right, the prob
lem is left to the Labor Board to work
out and the workmen realize that
they will have a better chance to OBJ
tain a restoration OF seniority rights
by leaving il to the board than by.
conceding the right of the executives
to settle it as they please, after the
men go back TO work. Again the
United States Labor Board becomes
the instrumentality of justice and the
President has now convinced those
who have discussed it with him, that
he intends to stand back of the board
and assist it as far as possible in ar
riving at fair decisions on the issues
raised in this strike,
The Labor Board is suffering the
same experience as the Interstate
Commerce Commission when first
created. Thu latter was fought in
the courts oh the ground Of uncon-
stitutionality, its orders were opposed
and 1t took some time before tia prsO-