The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-19

cduSSo otA gdAy hiAoSA OAd1AS VI
 Coupled apparently with ths
 action of the rail union leaders
 was n statement that the "rail- f
 road workers have no alternative 1
 except to fight" made by John 1. [
 Lewis, leader of the striking coal [
 miners who will meet with the i
 rail union leaders Tuesday to
 consider joint strike action He |
 also pledges the miners aid to
 the raIl men, but declined to i
 state definitely what mid naight
 result from joint action.
 The notice sent to the railroad la- bor board, in tho form of letter. reiterated the rail unfon leaders ats titude on the threatened walk-out. which was first definitely asserted in their statement Thursday night. The previous statement also includes the declaration that an overwhelm- ingl vote was being cast for the walk-out.
 Letter to Board
 The letter said:
 When there occurs a miscarriage of justice of such colossal and per- manent injury to railway labor as your decisions will bring about. the only means of remedy which the in- jured parties have is to refuse to accept your decisions. This proce- dure is perfectly legal. While it should only be used AS last resort, our membership may decide 1t 10 be fully justified by your denial of eie- mentary and long established rights and by the seriousness of the sttua- aA decisions have been submitted to 3 strike vote of our members and we are awaiting the results of their action. Should our members decide not 10 accept your decision, or, in other words. to strike, we shall sanc- tion their action and advise you ao- cordingly.'
 The letter said tho rail union chiefs had done everything to avert a strike, pointed out that no appeal was possible from the boards de- cistons. and restated that the unions contention was that the transporta- ton law required living wage for employees at the bottom of the scale of occupations with higher rates for other workmen, according to thelr skill. hazard of employment, re- sponsibility. training and experience.
 Chicago. Juno 1S.=The railroad sit- nation today Is hopeful and by fail many of the present difficulties Will be smoothed out, Ben Hooper, chair = man of the United States railroad l labor board, said iD a statement to- niaht, reviewing the problems before tho board. Neither rates nor wages are permanent, he said, because the conditions on which they are based are not permanent.
 He expressed the belief the raii- roads of the country will voluntarily discontinue the contracting out of work in a short time regardless of their opinions as to It's legality and said that this will go long way toward restoration of cordial rela- tions between the carriers and their employees. The Southern Pacific nas taken this action, he said.
 His statement follows:
 Amid all the muttering of dis content and rumors of war on the railroads, the notes of the peace bird is still quite audible to me.
 Favor Labor Unions
 "A few weeks ago. a leading rail- way periodical asserted that the rail- road labor board was completely dominated by the wishes of the labor organizations.
 Within the Hast few days the public has been informed that ths board Is blind and deaf to everything except the desires of the railroads.
 "A discriminating public will find the truth at point about half way between these two extremes.
 The whole railroad question Is surrounded by general mixup of folks wanting many different things.
 "The railroad owners want good profits. The employees want higher wages. The public demands reason- able rates and efficient service. The railroad homogeneous really desire every one of these things and their problem. therefore. Is a most difficult one. Difficult as may seem the simui- taneous accomplishment of all these conflicting results, the end will be attained if everybody will just keep cussing."