Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-06-30

1OS.S - ~
enduM, the proposition for a walkou
in protest against the contract sys
tenn received the heavieAt vote. &C
cording to reports III advance OF an!
Official announcements The question
of striking against the wage reduc'
ton was said to have received the
lightest favorable vote of the three
proposals on the shopmen's ballots.
Some Oppose Walkout.
Reports from some centers to-day
were that not all shopmen planned
to respond to the strike call,
Some rail officials commended still
that a shipments strike would not tie
up transportation, at least for some
considerable time.
Train service emPloyes-the big
four MISUNDERSTANDING the tele-
graphers are engaged In no controv-
ersy with the roads. Their only state
ment was that they would perform
only their regular duties and would
decline to do any work usually per-
formed by other classes of employees.
Wage reductions effective tomorrow
More than 1000. 900 railway en-
ployes will feel the slash.
HoopcTs Statement
Chicago. June 30.-Ben W. Hoop
er. chairman of the lebor board.
who was credited with having taken
the leadership in averting a
threatened railway strike last Oc-
,ober. last night issued a statement
declaring that "tt is evident to every
student of the situation that the rail-
way labor organizations have no just
cause for serious complaint at the
1raQfmaHf fhoV hoVyo roNosx.4d - %ho
hands of the federal wage tribunal
during the war period and SINCE"
The people of the United States
are sick and tired Of having railway
transportation and traffic periodically
interrupted by controversies between
railway arrangements and employees"
said the statement. twas this feel
ing which moved congress to enact
the transportation act of 1920.
Can Be No sucoee.
The right to strike and tie up a
private business is quite a different
thing from any supposed right to
choke n obstruct the fiow Of inter-
state commerce in this vast contin-
entail nation. Railway t~ransporta-
ton is not a private business. 1t is
essential to the very existence of our
republic and to the individual woll
being OF every citizen.
Il do not hesitate to make the
prediction hat W again will there
be a successful railroad strike Of any
considerable proportions OF impor-
lance in this country. The people
will not stand for it. Every man
concerned in traffic. travel and pro-
ductlon. every consumer of the ne
cessities Of life is absolutely depen-
dent upon the uninterrupted and ef-
fcient operation of the railways.
There must be peace on the rail-
roads. This scannot be obtained by
leaving the carriers free to impose
unjust conditions upon the employees
or by permitting the employees by or
carnations. however. powerful, to
impose unfair conditions upon the
carriers and u~nbearable burdens up
on the public. Such a system simply
means industrial war and this will
result in disaster to the parties and
the people.
Amy tribunal having a jurisdiction
similar to that Of the railroad board
will make mistakes but the fact that
somebody criticizes the action Of the
board does not even raise a presump-
ton that a mistake has been made.
In these s~trenuously contested dis
putes before this board. somebody is
always dissatisfied with the result.
The board is vigorously condemned,
first by n side and then by the
other. Labor controversies have al
ways been rather violent and they
have not degenerated into pink teas
since they were thrown before the
railroad labor board.
The able men representing, the
employees. put their whole souls into
their contentious and the questions
they handle are of momentous hus
man import. They are doubtless
often harassed by the apprehension
as are all public servants, that their
constituents may not fully understand
and appreciate their efforts.
Better Than Pre-War Scale.
1T is quite natural that they should
take deeply to heart even a partial
failure to attain the full measure OF
benefits which they seek for those
they so loyalty represent.
But it is evident to every student
OF "he situation that the railway la
Dor organizations have no just cause
Tor serious complaint at the treat
ment they have received at the hands
OF federal wage tribunals during the
war period and since.
The wages fixed by the recent de-
c!sions of this board will purchase
more than the wages received by
them prior to the war. In other
words, their wages have increased by
d greater percentage than has the
cost OF living. In some instances,
the increase is strikingly notable.
With but slight exceptions, the
great carriers Of the country have
paid the wages fixed by the various
succeeding government tribunals.
Now that the decreases have come.
the employees should be good sports
ana accept the deductions.
III a change in conditions at any
thlng should Justify increased wages, |
ihls board will most cheerfully re-
spond to the situation. Moreover, If
1t should at any time be made to ap-
pear to the board that any injustice
mad been done to any class OF en-
p!oyes by a rule or wage decision,
nnder a continuation Of present COM
ditions, i would be the duty of the
BOARD to correct such mistakes.
, Sustained Grievance.
il, Let It be understood, however, |
mat the board is convinced at this
tlne mat II has made no mistake and |
committed no injustice of any note
worthy magnitude in it's recent deci-
sion on rules and wages. The board |
mas ~endeavored to conform to the |
requirements of the law and has en-
taDilshed a schedule of wages higher
'nan those prevailing as a rule in /
oiher industries. IT is useless to re-
pea stattsticr on this subject.
Inc employees do have one nuh-