Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-08-08
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ar,,,,I.,5 and V;r~inia.
The Peace Path Open.

Rejection by the railroad executives
of the Presidents plan for a settle
ment of the railroad strike because OF
their refusal to waive the seniority
rules that prevail on most OF the
American lines does not preclude their
acceptance of the latest plan, Tor
submission of the whole question,
seniority included, to the Railroad
Labor Board for decision. A meeting
has been called for Friday, at which
the executives will consider the ques-
ton in its changed aspect. Indications
are given that the executives Will
agree to submit the question to the
Railroad Labor Board.
1t is unfortunate that this proposal
was not made at the beginning rather
than one which involved an outright
Welding by the rail executives to the
striking unions on point which Is OF
vital consequence in all matters OF IN
dustrial maintenance. Had 1t been
proposed, as indeed it was understood
To he contemplated, that both sides
should submit all matters, seniority
included, to the board, probably both
would have agreed, and by this time
the strike would have been ended and
the roads would have been fully
manned and speeding up toward nor
NAL operations.
The Railroad Labor Board has paved
the way to a submission of the matter
by the contending sides by the adop'
ton of the resolution which expresses
its willingness to consider the seniority
question without prejudice. One OF
the labor members of the board tried
to put it on record as resembling the
resolution of July "in so far as that
resolution has been interpr eted to al
feet the question of seniority" That
resolution declared that as the strikers
had left the service Of the carriers
they were mo longer employees of the
railways under the jurisdiction of the
Labor Board. 1t went further to say
that new employees were not strike
breakers" This was interpreted gen.
orally as "outlawing' the strikers and
as placing them beyond the scope OF
any seniority rights. The board, how
ever, did not touch specifically upon
the seniority question. and now de-
clares it's willingness to consider that
question as new one.
In these circumstances 1t would
seem to be altogether safe, from the
point of view of their own interests,
for both the executives and the en-
ployes to agree to a reference of the
whole matter, seniority included, to
the wage board.
The public interest in this matter Is
primarily for the restoration OF peace.
But the public also realizes that the
seniority rule is Of vital Importance.
not merely in the immediate admins
tration of the rail lines, but in the
maintenance of peace in the trans
portation industry in the future. Yet
this whole question turns upon recog-
milton Of the findings Of the Rail Labor
Board. If that body, or anc her sub
stituted for it by law. perhaps
through amendment Of thu present
statute, is accepted as the last court
of decision in matters pertaining to
all, forms of transportation labor, there
should be no wholesale quitting.
Therefore the seniority question will
not become again factor. The Presi-
dents major proposal is that the two
sides recognize and abide by the Labor
Board as the deciding factor in all dis
putes That done, the way to peace,
not merely for the present but for so
long as this system Of adjustment
stands, is open. And it is peace that
the country demands.