Grand Forks herald., 1922-06-19
Hoopcrs stateunun,

Chicag6s June ls.-The railroad
situation today il, hopeful and BY fall
many OF the present dilficuNies VIII
be smoothed out Ben w. Hooper,
chairman Of the United states rail-
road tabor board, said in u statement
last night, reviewing the problems
before the board. Neither rates nor
cauSe the conditions on which, they
arc based are not permanent.
He expressed the belief that the
railroads OF the. country will volun-
tariiy discontinue contracting out
work in short time regardless OF
their opinions as to its legality ana
said that this will go a Iona way to-
ward restoration Of cordial relations
between the carriers and their EN-
ployes. His statement follows: :
Amid all the mutterinxs Of dis
content anu rumors Of war on the
railroads, the note ot the peace bird
is still quite audible to me.
ut is claimed as one OF the in :
>alienable rights of the citizen. in this
country to cuss any court, boAfd or
tribunal for its Judgments ana de-
cisions Boards vested with jurisdic-
tien Of labor disputes ate always in
"a few weeks ago a leading rail-
way periodical asserted. that the
railroad labor board was conn ely
dominated by the wishes of the labor
Organizations.
Within the last few days the pub
lie has been informed that the board
is blind and deaf to everything ex-
cept the desires of the railroads. A
discriminating public will and the
truth at a point about half way be-
tween these two extremes.
"rhis whole railroad question
would be easy if it.. were not so hu-
man. 1t is surrounded ~by q general
n,ixup of folks wanting many diner
ent, things. ...;
''.rhe railroad owners want good
Profits. The employees want high
wages. The public demands reasbf-
able rates and efficient service. The
railroad arrangements really desire
every one OF these things and their
problem, therefore, ID a most difficult
one. Difficult as may seem the sim.
uitaneous accomplishments OF all
these conflicting results. the end will
be a attAined If everybody will just
keep eussifl'
''in other words, out of all this asi.
tation. the American people will
finally learn the truth about the ne.
ccssfties OF our great transportation
system, the rights Of the employed
and the interests OF the public, land
then this knowledge will be followed
by cofect action. ~.
The present situation is hopeful
There is no occasion for iinpatienct
on the part OF anybody. Neithei
rates nor wages are permanent be.
, cause the conditions upon which they
are based are not eprnnanent:y
ut is my prediction that long -be
fore fall many of the wrinkles viii
he ironed out of the railroad Ia DO,
situation, There is reason to 6elievt
that the railroads will remove. on.
impairment to good feeling on tht
paM ofStheir, employees BY :. -dis4on
| Timing sthe cont Enct.l syst teih, fek&rtl
less OF their COD cuons>as to its le
/ gality. This viii" go a long way to
! ward the restoration Of cordial Re
lations. Only yesterday the boar5
, received a communication from tn,
| Southern Pacific, giving notice tina
Me labor contracts complained or b!
it's employees had been done ava,
! with, and the road had no intention
of again resorting TO the CONTRACTING
Of its labor.S There are. reasons ii
believe this example Will be speedil,
followed by other railroads. tt II
the he'uhanimous judgment Of the -lAbo,
board that it should be if the nes
| are expected to respect the decisioni
OF the board, the manAgefnehts mus
do the same thing. A fair minded
public will not stand for anything
else" g