The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-01-28
Public Opinion Will Make
Boards Decision Effective

Boston, Mass, Jan. 27.-Public SEN
timcnt eXerts such q tremendous in
hucnce in America that the moral OBJ
! LEGATION Of the railways and their en-
plpyes TO avoid interruption of traffic
will make the United States labor
boards decisions effective, Ben w
Hooper, vice-chairman Of the board
declared today before the Bostor
! Chamber of Commerce.
Mr.. Hooper, G.. w. w. Hanger, pub.
lie member, and w. L. McMenimen
| labor member of the board, were
guests of the chamber at luncheon
where Mr.. Hooper voiced the opinion
that America had passed through the
/ winter Of our discomfort" and was now
standing on tiptoe, with the slogan
of the vernacular on her lips, Lets
| GO"
The hard pull is over," the forme,
| governor of Tennessee said. The
farmer is the only man in the country
who has really Debated He alone die
not have the parachute of organiza.
ton to retard his descent and break
! his fall. The next time this country
takes an international joyride in the
! zeppelin of war, the farmer will have
his parachute along with him and will
not be invited to step out on storm
! cloud and slide down on rainbow"
Mr.. Hooper said he expected the
number Of railway employees to be
largely increased in the spring, that
revenues would be enlarged by in
creased business and that conditions
would probably justify a reduction Of
rates (which is so essential to the
restoration of normal business"
In return to normal, Gov. Hooper
said, the railroads had accomplished
the transition without any general
strike or serious disturbance.
''ts a rule, both arrangements anG
employees have cooperated cordially
in carrying out the transportation
act," Mr.. Hooper said. "Ths has not
been easy for either side. The rail.
roads have had to contend with finan
cjal difficulties, and have been contin.
uaily subjected to the temptation OF
taking the bit in their teeth and try.
ing to get relief by independent ac.
tion more quickly than the labor board
considered it just and reasonable to
give to them. Only few carriers have
succumbed to this temptation, and, in
every instance, friction and discomfort
have resulted.
THE complaints of the employees
have been that certain carriers, tc
avoid dealing with labor organiza-
lions. have disregarded the rights Of
the majority guaranteed by the
transportation act, that certain car
ricrs have evaded the boards wage
orders by having receivers in charge
put into effect wage orders of the
courts without submitting the matte,
to the board and that certain carriers
have evaded the wage decisions of the
board by contracting or claiming tc
i contract certain classes of their work
to Independent contractors.
whatever may be the merit of
these contentious of the employees, it is
evident that they involve provocative
situations Under somewhat trying
circumstances, the employees have ex-
! hibitcd commendable self-restraint.
Con the other hand practically all
the carriers have promptly put into
! effect decisions Of the labor board with
which they were not in thorough ac-
cord and have struggled patiently and
. couragcously with discouraging con
ditions.
"Thc question will occur to you, will
the fear of the condemnation of pub
lie sentiment always secure the obedi-
cncc Of the parties to the decisions Of
+ IT," r0i'road labor board or will there
/ come ;me when powerful motives
: Of self interest will induce one or the
/ other 20 trample under foot the
. h~a"d's decisions and override public
. opinion?
~ would not underestimate the po-
'oncv of public opinion. 1t exerts .
tremendous influence in this country
c' cwS. My personal view is that
n"''hnr nc Carr,crs nor their en-
n'oyos have the moral right to discon-
tn"o railway operation to enforce the
G~mords &C either upon the other.
at n'nst not be forgotten that there
T "rc some labnr leaders and certain la
hor periodicals which persistently
rrcach the disNuieting doctrine that
tho tcil""s cf this country cannot trust
the courts ard tribunals having juris.
d'ct'cn Of their troubles. The railroad
''h"r board, if moved by a profound
d" iro TO DO justice, may largely coun-
t"rac. this destructive preachment.
and lint without stopping over like
rcurHsthcric parlor communist"