Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-27
Statement by Delaware and
Hudson Head Likely to In |
flame Union Men Not on
Strike
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Heased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Downright, 1921

Copyright, 10z2.)
WASHINGTON, July 25.-Decla
rations by L. F. Loree, president OF
the Delaware & Hudson, and other
leaders of the railroad executive
group, that company unions
would be formed as the basis here.
after of relations between railroads
and their employees was regarded
in official quarters here as a most
unfortunate utterance at this time.
Such statements, it was pointed
out by government officials, attack.
ing rights of labor which are not
directly involved in the pending dis
pute can serve only to inflame other
union men who are not now on
strike, particularly the brotherhoods
Of trainmen and enginemen and will
not contribute to early industrial
peace.
Mr.. Loree's announcement, it was
assumed by officials as well as by
spokesman of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor who criticized the
step, evidently was made before the
text of the decision of the United
States circuit court Of appeals Of
the northern Illinois district was re-
ceived in New York and thoroughly
studied. That decision deals death
blow to the effort Of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad to establish q "com-
pany union" and it was largely on
the precedent of what the Pennsyl-
vania railroad had attempted that
Mr.. Loree's declaration on behalf
of eastern railroad executives was
built.
The truth is the federal courts
have upheld the right of the work.
men to be represented by men of
their own choosing and without CO.
ercion or restriction on the part Of
their employers. An election which
the Pennsylvania attempted to hold
to choose representatives for the
Workmen was declared void by the
United States labor board and the
courts now have upheld the right
or the labor board to decide who is
the legitimate representative of the
employees. -
Complication Injected
unfortunately the labor board it.
sen mas injected a complication in
attempting to protect strike-break.
ers In the present railroad crisis.
Inc board declared that if the men
now at work formed new unions
they would be recognized. This, of
course, does not mean that strikers
VINO eventually return to work would
De deprived of the right to be repre-.
sented by the American Federation
OF Labor, or any other organization
OF thelr own making rather than
Inc company's, though to be sure
such an Interpretation of the labor
boards invitation to form new un.
IONS was widely distributed before
being denied. 0A
PRESIDENT Harding himself is on
record in direct contradiction of
what Mr.. Loree has announcsd
namely the formation of unions hv
company direction. The president in
ms december address to congress-
stared the case as follows:
Inc right of labor to organize
ls just as fundamental and necessary
as is the right of capital to organ.
ne. Inc right of labor to negotiate.
W ueal with and solve its particular
problems In an organized way.
lnrouS It's chosen agents, is Just as
essentlal as is the right Of capital
20 organize, to maintain corpora.
holders" - 9'oeiAF
With this principle the officials
most concerned in the handling Of
the strike situations are in entire
agreement and that's why anythine
Wnlch attempts to take away q
fundamental right of labor is frown.
eo upon as mistaken tactics. In.
oeed, the contention of MANY union
leaders in private is that the sun.
posed issues of wages and workine
conditions will present a likely diff.
Guilty of settlement If it were NOT
Tor that fact that the present indus.
trial crisis is being prolonged in an
EFFORT to break up the influence and
power OF the unions, a circumstance
which has been in the back of the
minds of the executives ever since
the roads were turned over to the
roads by the government.
Bottom of Trouble
1t has been the bottom of the
trouble, not only in the rail but in
the coal strikes. In fact in the coal
situation, the operators have insisted
that they would beat the unions If
the government would furnish pro.
lection to strike-breakers. This pro-
lection by federal and state troops
is being furnished while a test is be-
ing made Of the soundness OF the