The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-28
PUBLIC. STANDS
BACK OF LABOR
BOARDS RULES
Vice Chairman of Organization
FeIicitates Country On Railroad
Settlement Without Strike.

Boston. Mass, Jan. 2S.-Public
sentiment exerts such tremendous
influence in America that the moral
obligation of the railways and their
employees to avoid interruption OF
traffic will make the United States
railroad labor boards decisions ef-
fective, Ben W. Hooper, vice chair
man of the board, declared yester.
day before the Boston Chamber OF
Commerce.
Mr.. Hooper, G. W. w. Hanger.
public member, and w. L. McMen1-
men, labor member of the board,
were guests of the chamber at a
luncheon, where Mr.. Hooper voiced
the opinion that America had
passed through 1.-The winter of our
discomfort" and was now standing
on tiptoe, with the slogan of the
vernacular on her lips, Let's CO.
THE hard pull is over" the for
mer governor of Tennessee said.
THE farmer is the only man In the
country who has really debated. He
alone did not have the parachute of
organization TO retard his descent
and break his fall. The next time
this country takes an international
joyride in the Zeppelin of war, the
farmer will have his parachute
along with him and will not be in
vited to step out on a storm cloud
and slide down on rainbow.
More Business.
MIR. Hooper. said he expected the
number of railway employees to be
~ hA
revenues would be enlarged by in
creased business and that condi-
tions would probably justify re-
duction of rates which is so essen
tial to the restoration OF normal
business"
In return to normal, Governor
Hooper said, the railroads had &C
complished the transition without
any general strike or serious dis
turbance.
LAS a rule, both arrangements and
employees have cooperated cordially
in carrying out the transportation
act" Mr. Hooper said. This has
not been easy for either side The
railroads have had to contend with
financial difficulties, and have been
continually subjected to the tempta-
ton of taking the bit in their teeth
and trying to get relief by indie
pendent action more quickly than
the labor board considered it just
and reasonable to give to them.
Only few carriers have succumbed
to this temptation, and, in every in
stance, friction and discomfort have
resulted.
Cites Complaints.
THE complaints of the employees
have been that certain carriers, to
avoid dealing with labor organiza-
tons. have disregarded the rights
of the majority guaranteed by the
transportation act, that certain car
riers have evaded the boards wage
orders by having receivers in charge
put into effect wage orders of the
courts without submitting the mat
ter to the board and that certain
carriers have evaded the wage de-
cisions of the board by contracting
or claiming to contract certain
classes of their work to independ-
ent contractors.
Whatever may be the merit of
these contentious of the employees,
it is evident that they involve
provocative situations. Under some
what trying circumstances, the en-
ployes have exhibited commendable
Self-restraint
On the other hand, practically
all the carriers have promptly put
into effect decisions of the labor
board with which they were not in
thorough accord and have struggled
patiently and courageously with
conditions.
THE question will occur to you,
will the fear of the condemnation
Of public sentiment always secure
the obedience OF the parties to the
decisions Of the railroad labor
board, or will there come a time
when powerful motives of self
will induce one or the other
10 trample under foot the board |
decisions and override public opin-
on?
Il would not underestimate the
of public opinion. 1t exacts
1 tremendous influence in this (,
of ours. My personal view |
S that neither the carriers nor |
heir employees have the moral right |
o discontinue railway operation to I
enforce ne demands of either upon |
he other.
1T must not be forgotten. that |
here. are some labor leaders and |
certain labor periodicals which
preach the disquieting
doctrine that the toilers of this
country cannot trust the courts and
tribunals having Jurisdiction OF
heir troubles. The railroad labor !,
'oard, if moved by a profound de-
ire to do justice. may largely
cunteract this destructive preach
nenA and that without stopping
'vef0 like a neuresthenic parlor
Communist"