The Washington times., 1922-07-28

ers of one OF the biggest Of the
unions said today:
IF the President owned these rail-
roads personally, we could reach an
in a day"
Virtually all railroads have now
agreed to refrain from contracting
out their repair work; and this fact
has become the dominating fact In
the whole strike situation. II means
that the unions have won a big point
and can be little more yielding on
some other points.
Point two Is rules" The Railroad
Labor Board destroyed some ''fules"
which the men had enjoyed for
years. One OF these rules was that
extra pay should be given for extra
work on Sundays and holidays. The
Railroad Labor Board decided that
The men should work on Sundays
and holidays for the same pay as on
other days. This made more trouble
than anything else that the Railroad
Labor Board has done. Many rail-
roads now get very bad work from
their men on Sundays and holidays.
Many railroads now are willing TO
enter into new negotiations with
heir men on this point.
Point three is wages. The pres.
ent prospect Is that the men VIII
get an immediate new wage near
ing by the Railroad Labor Board.
In the ordinary course of things
they would not get a new hearing
for n long time. The Railroad La
bor Board Is far behind in Its work.
More cases come to It than 1t can
handle. II perhaps now has
enough cases to keep II busy Tor
a couple Of years. The shopmen
in the ordinary course OF things
would have to work at their re-
duced wages for a long time with
out a rehearing. BY means OF this
strike they have secured the pros.
pect of an agreement for an imme-
diate re.hearing. On this point
therefore they must be. regarded as
having made headway.'
Point four is adjustment
boards" The men have been able
TO show that the Railroad LABOR
Board is overloaded and that "ad'
iustment boards" might help 1t out.
| But they have also brought for
ward another argument on this
point.
The representatives of the unions
and the representatives OF the rail-
roads have not met face to face In
| regular full direct negotiations for
| now some two years. In all that
| time they have met only as con-
| testants and combatants before the
Railroad Labor Board. They have
| met only as in a courtroom to argue
| against one another.
In these circumstances the physi-
| cal and mental separation between
| the leaders OF the railroad manage.
| ments and the leaders of the unions
has greatly increased. 1t was neces-
sary the other day for a Government
| official TO introduce the president or
one Of the largest railroads to the
| president of one OF the largest rail
road unions. These two men were
| extremely important TO each other
but they did not know each other.
The men claim that adjustment
/ boa boards''-consistingo Of railroad repre-
sentatives and union representatives
\ face to face without outsiders pres
ent-would have two good results.
| II would settle lot OF technical
points fast. And II would tend to
| restore the personal acquaintance.
ship which settles more troubles than
can ever be settled by public disputa-
tions before a board.
The argument of the men on this
point has made headway In public
official circles during the strike.
Point five is the seniority rule.
Here the men seem likely to be
driven to concessions. They seem
likely to be forced to concede regular
/ seniority rights to their fellow work
men who were working in the shops
at the time of the calling Of the
strike and who stayed at work. But
they are extremely unlikely ever to
| concede seniority rights to strike
breakers. On this point the chances
are for a compromise.
The net total today looks like a
! justification of the strike from the
| standpoint Of the strikers.