South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-08
RAIL R ULIN GS AID
EVERYBODY: HOOPER
Moral Obligation of Roads,
Employees Kept in Sight,
Nice-Chairman SAYS.

BOSTON. Mass. Feb. Railway
managements and their erupIoye.
have a moral Obligation 20 avoid
Interruption OF ira &c and the
United States railroad labor board is
eudeavoring TO lead both carrier
and raj workers 20 carry out this
Obligation. Ben V. Hooper. vice
chairman OF the labor board. de-
clared before the Boston chamber
% Commerce
Mr.. Hooper. G. ". ". Hanger,
public member. and W. L. McMeni-
man, labor member or the board.
we're guests Of the chamber al a
luncheon, where Mr.. Hooper voiced
The opinion that America had passed
through "the winter of our disoon-
tent" and was now standing on tip
toe with the slogan Of the vernacu-
lar on her lips. Let's go.
Hard Pull is over"
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 10 retard his descent
and break his fan. The next time
this country takes am international
ioyride fin the Zeppelin or war. the
farmer will havo his parachute
along with him and will not be in-
vited 20 step out on a storm cloud
and slide down on a rainbow
Mr. Hooper said ne expected the
number Of railway employees to be
largely increased in the spring. that
revenues would he enlarged ~ in
creased business and that conditions
would probably justify a reduction
of rates which IL 80 essential TO
the restoration Of normal business D.
IN return 70 normal. Gov. Hooper
said. the railroads had accomplished
the transition without any general
strike or. serious disturbance.
Cordial Cooperation"
"As a rule. both homogeneous and
employees have co-operated cordially
In carrying out the transportation
act. Mr.. Hooper said This has
not been easy 20 either side The
railroads have had TO contend with
financial difficulties. and have been
ton OF taking the bit in their teeth
and trying TO get relief by indie
pendent action more quickly than
the labor board considered 81 just
and reasonable 10 give TO them. Only
a few carriers have succumbed to
this temptation, and. I'm every in
stance. friction and discomfort have
resulted.
The complaints or the employs
have been that certain carriers. to
avoid dealing with labor Organiza-
lions, have disregarded the right
OF the majority guaranteed by the
transportation act. that certain car
rlers 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
cidons of tho board by contracting
or claiming 70 contract certain
classes Of their work to independ-
ent contractors.
Decisions Respected.
Whatever may be the merit of
these contentious OF the employees. IL
~ evident that they involve provoca-
tive situations. Under somewhat
trying circumstances. the employees
have exhibited commendable self
restraint
ION 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 couraEcously with dis
couraging conditions
The questions will occur TO you,
will the fear OF the condemnation of
public sentiment always secure the
obedience Of the parties 10 the de-
cisions OF the railroad labor board.
or will there come a time when
powerful motives of seIf-iuterest
VIII induce one or the other to
trample under foot the boards de
cisions and override public opinion
Public Holds Whip.
II would not underestimate the
potency of public opinion. To exerts
a tremendous influence i'm this cum
try or ours. Ny personal view is
that neither the carriers nor THEN
employees have the moral right TO
discontinue railway operation TO en-
force tho demands of either upon
the other.
1T must not DE forgotten that
there are some labor leaders and
certain labor periodicals which per
sistently preach the disquieting doc
trine that the tOiicr5 OF this country
having jurisdiction Of their troubles
The railroad labor board II moved
by a profound desire TO do justice,
may largely counterfeit this des;ruc-
tive preachment. and that without
stopping over like a ncurest heniC
parlor communist"