The Washington times., 1922-08-10

49, 4<&2AXM down on the OPP
ks&2zazzz&XE position 70 II by
the unions.
WILLIAM HARD.
The Unions say that they will
not go back to work on some roads
while they are still striking on
others. They say the roads on
which they resumed working would
be able to furnish repaired equip
ment to the roads against which
they were still striking. This, they
say, would be suicidal to their
strike. Therefore, they say. they
will not do II.
1t is replied that the President
would then hire strikebreakers. II
In rejoined that the coai-carrytng
railroads can hire striksbreakers
now. The upshot Of the argument
is that this proposal IN regarded as
producing no change. Il might be
adopted by Congress but II would
not settle the strike.
The second proposal is not even
likely to be adopted by Congress.
II is for giving teeth" to the Rail
road Labor Board. II is for en-.
powering the Railroad Labor Board
to enforce" its decisions against
strikers.
The trouble encountered by this
proposal IL that Senators see no
way OF empowering the Railroad
Labor Board to enforce" its de.
serve that we now in Washington
Nuya af ofE
have a group OF union strikers.
And we have a group Of railroad
company strikers.
These Pennsylvania Railroad
Company loyal shopmen who are
now in Washington appealing to
the President are themselves strik.
ers against the Railroad Labor
Board. They are strikers against
II by instigation of the Pennsyi.
vania Railroad Company. They be-
long to a company union" estab-
lished by the Pennsylvania Rail.
road Company In acknowledged
and boasted violation Of a decision
and order OF the Railroad Labor
Board.
This violation has continued for
approximately one whole year.
Whatever other seniority" these
loyal shopmen of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company may ever have,
they have q clear seniority" In
striking. Mr.. Jewell Of the railroad
unions has been on strike for less
than two months. Mr.. Atterbury
OF the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany has been on strike for
twelve.
Senators are unable to figure
out any. way in which they can
prevent Mr.. Atterbury from going
on strike. They therefore draw
back from trying to apply any
forcible prevention to Mr.. Jewell.
They do not like to hand dose
to one side that they canot hand
to the other.
Moreover there are numerous
Senators who in any case are unal.
terably opposed to anti-strike ,egis-
lation. II any such legislation goes
through Congress at this time u
will be a miracle. Therefore presi.
dent Harding's coming appeal to
Congress-unless II contains ele-
uleHts HOt HOW HnuCipate0-is re-
garded as destined to have small ef.
feet on the strike.
Meanwhile II has been made clear
that the strike will cost the railroad
managers and railroad stockholders
nothing.
The railroads are, entitled to a!
certain net profit after paying ex-
penses Of operation. Is breaking this
strike an expense Of operation7 1t
is.
The union strike leaders sent an
inquiry about 1t to an officer OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
They got the reply, Yes"
80 all these armed guards, all these
special accommodations for strike.
breakers, all these special wages for
them, all these cross-country trips
for them from New York TO West
Virginia, all these expenses of teach.
ing them how to repair a locomotive
will get paid for by the travelling
public and by the shipping public.
conclude with a cheering discov.
cry which a local historian has Just
made. He has discovered that