Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-30
Rapid Developments
Continued from Page One)


ity of the transportation act, issued
a citation to the strike leaders to
come before it for official inquiry.
Tie Association of Railway Execu-
ttves meeting here on other matters
considered and rejected the union
proposal Of truce pending negotia-
tons over wages and working condi-
tons.
The executives declared that a
strike would be against the orders of
the labor board and against the Unit
ed States government and thus alb
solved themselves from further re-
sponsibility to the present situation.
There is little likelihood, officials
sad that any conference could be
arranged to mend the differences of
the employees and the roads. and most
of the executives departed onight for
their homes. Roads cited were pres
ent at today's meeting. but they ex-
pected to appear before the board to-
morrow.
The July /, 100000 900 wage cut and
the modification of seven rules were
the two questions involved in the
shipments strike vote. which are con-
ditions laid down by the labor board,
according to the carriers position. De-
fance of those orders by the roads
would he ito recognize your power
and authority as greater than that of
the government" said the executives
rerly to the union ultimatum.
The reply WAS directed to B. NJ. Jew
ell president oe the railway employees
department Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. of which all 10 unions
who threaten - walk out are members.
Ben w Hooper, chairman of the la
hor board. who was credited with hav-
ing taken the leadership in avoiding a
threatened railway strike last October.
tonight issued a statement declaring
thar lit is evident to every student Of
the situation that the railway labor
organization has no just cause for Sc
rous complaint at the treatment they
have received AT the hands Of the fed
eral wage tribunals during the war
PERIOD and since" The statement fol-
lows:
The people o. the United States are
SICK and tired of having railway trans
portation and traffic periodically inter
l4pted by controversies between rail-
way managements and employees. 1t
vas this feeling which moved Congress
y 'nact the transportation act of 1920
The right to strike and tie up pri-
Vate business IS quite a different thing
from any supposed right to choke and
ohs.ruct the flow OF interstate COM
Eerce IN this vast continental nation.
Ia !~aT trans nortation is not private
business, 1t is essential to the very
existence Of Our republic and to the
Individual wellbeing of every citizen.
y do not hesitate to make the pre-
action that never again will there be
successful railroad strike of any
considerable Proportions of import
encH in this country. The people will
NJ. stard for u
If change in conditions should at
ar time justify increased wages this
hoald will most cheerfully respond to
the situation. Moreover, If it should
a. any time b. made to appear to the
board that any injustice has been done
10 any class of employees by any rule
or wage decis on. under a continuation
Of the present conditions. 1t would be
tho duty of the board to correct such
mistakes
The employees do have one substan-
'ial grievance against certain of the
carriers, and that is the contracting
' 81 railway employment to so-called in
dependent contractors. This is not
SIMPLY a labor grievance. it is a pub
.ic grievance. This policy carried to
lis legitimate end destroys the labor
articles of the transportation act.
treats the Unncd States Congress with
contempt. deprives the public Of law
full protection from railway labor
troubles and grievously imposes upon
til. employees.
1T is highly gratifying. however.
thar several If the carriers have with
drawn from :he contract policy this
week and it is hoped that all the others
will follow