Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-08-09

paired" lies in the last paragraph
from their reply to the President as
follows:
ut is submitted that the strik-
ing former employees cannot be
given preference to employees at
present in the service without do
ing violence to every principle Of
right and justice involved in this
matter, and without the grossest
breach Of faith on the part Of the
railroads to the men at present
in their service.
Under these circumstances, 1t
becomes apparent that the rail-
roads cannot consider any settle
ment of the present strike which
does not provide protection In
their present employment, both
to the loyal employees who re-
manned in the service, and to the
new employees entering It,"
The executives had accepted the
first two conditions proposed by the
President, namely, that both employ
ers and employees accept the de-
cisions Of the Labor Board, and that
all lawsuits growing out of the strike
be withdrawn; and in relation to the
third condition spoke not only as
quoted above, but also as follows
Agree With the President.
"The railroad executives and man
ayers agree entirely with the Presi-
dents statement in his letter that 1t
is wholly unthinkable that the rail-
road Labor Board can be made use
full agency Of the government in main
tanning industrial peace in the railway
service unless employers and workers
are both prompt and unquestioning in
their acceptance of its decisions.
MANY men in the service refused
to join the strike and in so doing we're
assured Of the seniority rights accruing
to them and Of the permanency OF the
jobs. On some important lines some
fifty percent of the men refused to
Join the strike. To these old loyal
employees have been added thousands
Of new men who we're employed and
could be secured only upon definite
promise that their services would be
retained regardless Of the settlement
of the strike, with all the rights ap-
pertaining to such employment, in
Guiding that of seniority, under the
working rules and regulations pre-
viously approved by the railroad Labor
Board"
"Just The Opposite Effect"
1--WE especially point out that re-
fusal to the old men who remained
in the service and to the new men
who accepted service, Of the rights OF
RI fhnir
ment would have just the opposite
effect to that desired by the Presi-
dent, and would most seriously dis
credit the Labor Board.
1.-The Board itself prescribed the
Rules of Seniority under which the
men referred to have secured their
seniority rights, and the Railroad
Companies have neither the legal nor
moral right to deprive these men OF
those rights. By public utterances
since the strike began, the Board has
recognized and emphasized these
rights, and to deny them now would
instead of upholding the Authority OF
the Labor Board, overthrow its rules
and dscredit its authority.
1.-The Chairman Of the Labor Board
at the time the strike was called,
made the following public statement:
Upon one question the strik-
ing employees should not be de-
ceiyed. their leader has said that
the strikers are no longer en-
ployees of the railways. and they
have thus automatically aban-
doned their rights they possess
the decisions of the Board in
GLIDING their seniority. This Is not
the Boards action. 1t Is their
own.
MANY carriers are giving their
former employees the opportunity
to re-enter the service within
limited time. 1t must be under
stood now that men who remained
in the service and those who are
now entering it will have right
Of seniority that the Board could
not ignore"
What The Proposed Plan Means
"It must be understood that any
proposal that employees now on strike
shall re permitted to return to the
service without impairment to their
seniority, is merely another way OF
suggesting that those men who took
employment in this crisis in good
faith, relying on the promises Of the,
railroads to protect them in their
positions, these promises being justi-
fed by the authoritative utterances
of the Labor Board, and thus have
made possible the continued opera
ton Of the railroads, shall now be
sacrificed in favor Of men now on
strike who not only brought about the
crisis, but, by their own action and
declaration, are no longer employees
of the railways under the jurisdiction
of the United States Railroad Labor
Board, or subject to the application
Of the Transportation Act.
"In addition to the necessity Of up
holding the Labor Board and main
tanning the pledges made by the rail-
roads to the men now at work. There
is the practical effect on the superv1-
sorry officers OF a violation of the