New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-02


first recommendation of the Presi-
dent, reading as follows:
First. Railway managers and
workmen are to agree to recognize
the validity Of all decisions of the
Railroad Labor Board, and to faith
fully carry out such decisions as con-
templated by the law
With the understanding that this a
not intended to preclude any party
to controversy from proceeding by
legal action to question the validity
OF any order Of the board on the
ground that jurisdiction and author
lty to make the order was not con-
ferred by the statutes creating tho
board and defining it's authority.
(2) That We accept the second pro-
posal of the President, reading as
follows:
Second. That carriers will with
draw all lawsuits growing out of the
strike, and Railroad Labor Board de-
cisions which have been involved in
the strike may be taken, in the ex-
ercise of recognized rights by either
party, to the Railroad Labor Board
for rehearing'-
With the understanding that the
strike is first called off, and the rep
resentatives of the strikers pledge
themselves and the strikers against
violence in any form against the men
now at work and the property of the
carriers, since otherwise it would be
impossible to consider the dismissal
of injunctions and other legal meas
ures necessary to protect such per-
sons and property from the violence
and intimidation of the character
resorted to in many localities since
the strike was called.
Reject Seniority Proposal
Without Qualification
(3) That it is impossible to agree
to the first sentence of the third pro-
posal of the President, the whole Of
which reads as follows.
"Third-All employees now on
strike to be returned to work and to
their former positions with seniority
and other rights unimpaired. The
representatives of the carriers and
the Representatives of the organiza-
tions especially agree that there will
be no discrimination by either party
against the employees who did or did
not strike"
The railroad executives and man
ayers agree entirely with the Presi-
is wholly unthinkable that the Rail-
road Labor Board can be made a use-
full agency of the government in
maintaining industrial peace in the
railway service Hntess employers and
workers are both FromRsaasd unques-
tioning in their acceptance of its de-
cisions. | think it is more desirable
than | know how to express to have
established the unchallenged author
ity of the Railroad Labor Board, be-
cause we must do those things which
are necessary to bring about the rec
ognition of suitable authority to de-
eide and end such disputes as menace
the continuity of transportation"
Declare Shop Unions
Flouted Rail Board
By this language the President has
expressed with great force and clear
ness the policy which we advocate.
But the decisions of the Railroad
Labor Board were fouted and de-
fed by the six organizations compris-
ing the Federated Shop Crafts; the
strike was called to take effect July
l, 1922, and even the summons of the
board to appear with the railroad
executives before the Labor Board,
after the strike was called and be-
fore it took effect, was contemptu-
ously ignored by the leaders of the
strikers, who refused to attend the
hearing. Thereupon it became the
and vigorously to undertake to up
hold the orderly processes for the
adjustment of industrial disputes
contemplated by the statute creating
the Labor Board, and represented by
the decisions Of that board against
which the strike in question was di-
rected, and at the same time con-
tinue to the best of their ability to
discharge their duty to the public as
common carriers.
Many men in the service refused
to join the strike, and in so doing
were assured of the seniority rights
accruing to them and of the perma-
nence Of their positions. On some
important lines SO per cent or more
refused to join the strike. To these
old loyal employees have been added
thousands of new men who were en-
ployed and could be secured only
upon a definite promise that their
services would be retained, regard
less of the settlement of the strike,
such employment, including that of
seniority under the working rules and
regulations approved by the Rail-
road Labor Board. We especially
point out that refusal to the old
men who remained in the service and
to the new men who accepted service
of the rights of seniority incident to
their employment would have
just the opposite effect to that de-
sired by the President, and would
most seriously discredit the Labor
Board. The board itself prescribed
the rules of seniority under which
the men referred to have secured
their seniority rights, and the rail-