Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-28
LETS CO. IS
SLOGAN Of j. g.,
HOOPER STATES
"AmeriCa Has PaSSe d
Through the Winter of
Our Discomfort" Says
Labor Board Member.

Boston, Mass, Jan. 27.-Railway
managements and their employees
have moral obligation to avoid
interruption of traffic and the
railroad labor board is endeavoring
to lead both carriers and rail
workers to carry out this obliga-
ton, Ben w. Hooper, vice chair
man of the labor board, declared
today before the Boston Chamber
OF Commerce.
Mr.. Hooper, G.. w. w. Hanger,
public member. and w. i. McMen-
linen, labor member of the board,
were guests of the chamber at a
luncheon, where Mr.. Hooper voiced
the opinion that America had
passed through 1.-THE winter Of our
discomfort" and was now standing
on tiptoe, with the slogan of the
vernacular on her lips Let's co."
lizard Pull Is Over"
"The hard pull is over" the for
mer governor Of Tennessee said
"The farmer is the only man in the
country who has really Debated.
He alone did not have the para
chute of organization to retard his
descent and break his fall. The
next time this country takes an in
ternational joyride in the Zeppe-
lin OF war, the farmer will have
his parachute along with him and
will not be invited to step out on
IL storm cloud and slide down on
a rainbow"
Mr.. Hooper said he expected the
number Of railway employees to be
largely increased in the spring,
that revenues would be enlarged
by increased business and that
conditions would probably Justify
a reduction of rates (which Is so
essential to the restoration OF nor
NAL business"
In return to normal, Governor
Hooper said the railroads had ac-
complished the transition without
any general strike or serious dis
turhance.
"As a rule, both arrangements
and employees have co-operated
cordially in carrying out the trans
nortation act" Mr.. Hooper said.
This has not been easy for either
side. The railroads have had to
contend with financial difficulties,
and have been continually subject
ed to the temptation Of taking the
bit in their teeth and trying to get
relief by Independent action more
quickly than the labor board con-
sldered it just and reasonable to
give them. only a few carriers
have succumbed TO this tempta-
ton, and, in every instance, fric-
ton and discomfort have resulted.
1.-THE complaints of the employees
have been that certain carriers, to
avoid dealing with labor organiza-
tiOns, have disregarded the rights
of the majority guaranteed by the
transportation act; that certain
carriers have avoided the boards
wage orders by having receivers in
charge put into effect wage orders
of the courts without submitting
the matter to the board, and that
certain carriers have evaded the
wage decisions Of the board by
contracting or claiming to contract
certain classes of their work to in
dependent contractors.
whatever may be merit Of
these contentious of the employees,
it is evident that they involve pro-
vocative situations. Under some
what irving circumstances, the en-
ployes have exhibited commenda-
BILE self-restraint.
Struggled Patiently.
ION the other hand, practically
all of the carriers have promptly
put into effect decisions Of the la
Dor board with which they wera
not in thorough accord and have
struggled patiently and COURAGEOUS
ly with discouraging conditions.
The question will occur to you.
will the fear OF condemnation Of
public sentiment always secure the
obedience Of the parties to deci-
sions OF the railroad labor board,
or will there come a time when
powerful motives of self-interest
VIII induce one or the other to
trample under foot the boards de-
cisions and override public opin-
ion?
IT would not underestimate the
potency of public opinion. It ex-
erts a tremendous Influence in this
country of ours. My personal view
Is that neither the carriers nor
their employees have the moral
right to discontinue railway opera
tion to enforce the demands Of
either upon the other.
1T must not he forgotten that
there are some labor leaders and
certain labor periodicals which
persistentlv preach the disouieting
doctrine that the toilers of this
country cannot trust the courts
and tribunals having jurisdiction
of their troubles. The railroad Ia
Dor board, IL moved by profound
desire to do justice. may largely
counteract this destructive preach
ment, and that without Stopping
over like a neuresthenic parlor
communist"
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