The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-12-21

did not average more than perhaps
$1,000?
| With these facts before you, may
ask whether you still contend that
there was no excuse for these strikes?
You state that theoretically fair
and living wage must be determined
quite, apart from the employers earn
ing capacity. Why theoretically? Is
it not apparent to every thinking
man that unless our wages are stand
ardized upon basis that will at
least equalize the cost of living with
margin for comfort, the laboring
man will go bankrupt, and that
strikes are inevitable? And in the
face of these facts, can you seriously
demand legislation which prohibits
strikes?
Is it not plain to you that the de-
termination to strike on the part of
workman or group of workmen pri-
marily arises from the fact that 1t
has been found impossible under the
conditions then existing to live in de-
cency and comfort? The right to
strike is fundamental, and the deter
mination to strike, even in cases
where perhaps the facts do not justify
such action, is a human reaction
which cannot be denied nor prevented
by any legislative measures.
am not particularly concerned
with those who criticize your demand
for such legislation on the ground
that you will lose the labor vote. for
l do not believe any such considera-
tion should enter into the recommen-
dations submitted by the President of
the United States to the members of
Congress. But 1 am very much con-
cerned with the fact that the remedy
you suggest is not only subversive of
human rights but is impossible of ac-
complishment, and if attempted will
surely lead us into even more dan
gerous paths than those we are now
treading.
AS you say, the Railroad Labor
Board has not functioned very salts
factorily. But do you really believe
that this is due to the fact that one
third of its members represent the
railroads and one-third the railroad
workers? Is it not fairer to say that
the remaining one-third which rep
resent the public do not properly rep
resent the public sentiment? Is it
not at least in part due to the fact
that the Railroad Labor Board have
allowed the Railroad Executives to
| flagrantly disregard their mandates
while they have strenuously demand
ed that the Railroad Brotherhoods
should strictly obey them?
As you say, there is no problem ex-
ceeding in Importance this one Of
transportation, and it is undeniably
true that in the last half of the year
now closing the railways, broken in
carrying capacity because of motive
power and rolling stock out of order,
though insistently declaring to the
contrary, embargoed the farmers
shipments or denied him cars when
fortunate markets were calling. Too
frequently transportation failed while
perishable products were turning
from possible profit to losses counted
in tens of millions.
But upon what possible grounds do
you argue that it was government
operation which brought us to the
very order of things against which we
now rebel?
u Are you not aware that, during the
period of government operation, hand
icapped and misrepresented though it
was, the cost of transportation, the
condition of the roads, and the prac-
tical results secured, were infinitely
superior to what they have been since
the roads were returned to private
ownership?
| And do you venture to assert that
our arteries of distribution, the only
channel through which the necessities
of life can reach 11O,000,000 people,
should be farmed out to private cor
porations and operated for individual
profit instead of being recognized as
fundamentally public function and
a sovereign right which should be
owned by the people themselves and
administered through their public
representatives to render service at
cost?
As citizen of the United States
and as Chairman of an organization
having for it's purpose the enlighten-
ment of the American people, ask
that you favor me with reply to
these questions.