New-York tribune., 1922-07-01
ShopmenReject
Boards Plea to
Delay ,Walk.Out
Won't Be Forced Into ''Nonr
Acceptable Employment"
Jewell Says, in Refusing
Summons TO a Conference
No Limit on Strike Right
Attacks Peace Movement as
Illegal Attempt to Use
Purely Advisory Powers

CHICAGO, June 30 (By The Associ-
ated Prcss).-Loadcrs Of the railroad
shop crafts. whose wslk-out Is set FOR
tomorrow. to-day notified the United
States Railroad Labor Board tha, the
shopmsn refused 10 delay their strike
III the telegram Of the Railroad La
Dor Board Of June % (summon.ng the
shopmon's leaders 10 the coniercnce)
means tha. tho board is issuing an
order TO the shopmen that the sitgs.
tion remain In s,a;u quo until a settle
ment IL reached" said a letter 70 the
board from r " Jewell. then the
shopmen regard II as void. because II
forces them into non.seeep,Able en-
ployment'
The letter referred 20 the United
states Circuit Court ruling in the
Pennsylvania Railroad case. holding
that the decisions Of the Railroad La
Dor Board are only advisory.
Accuses Board Of Coercion
Being an Administrative arm Of the
government" the letter said, the board
cannot coerce railroad employees into
unacceptable employment. The trans
portation &C, did not and can not grant
the Labor Board authority 20 ooeree
railroad employees into unacceptable
employment"
Acknowledging receipt Of the Labor
Boards citation Mr jewell replied;
Il assume that similar telegram
has been sent 20 the executives OF tho
shop craft organizations. They are
engaged. as YOU know. in doing all M
their power in behalf Of an orderly
and peacoable suspension Of work or
the part Of those employees who elect
20 act upon the sanction 20 suspend
work granted BY these executives IN
compliance with the almost unanimous
vote 0. the crafts. Il appears 20 me
that the result. even II not the pur.
pose Of the telegram and the proposed
hearing would be a confused and dis
orderly strike movement. lacking au-
thoritative control. and almost inevi-
tably resulting in q mob-llke action.
which would bc pregnant with grave
possibilities. which IL is the chief de-
sire Of the executives Of the organiza-
tions Of employees 20 prevent snd
which Il has been far too often the
obvious desire Of employers 70 ineite.
"ln protection OF the public interest
in Law and order, and in conservation
Of the railroad industry, and in aid
Of the disciplined conduct % half a
million men. under trying conditions.
permit me 70 urge that no action be
taken az the present time which would
deprive the railroad employees Of the
immediate counsel and guidance OF
their chosen representatives..
"A compulsory limitation upon the
right 20 control ones own property
NAV we'll be within the power Of our
government. because all rights ot prop
erty are creations OF law But COM
pulsory Limitation upon the right 20
control ones own labor is not within
the power Of our government. because
this right is a natural right and y pro-
tee;ed by tho Thirteenth Amendment
% the Constitution. which provides
that involuntary servitude shall not
exis. within tho United States.
"ln the language Of the court the
decisions OF the Labor Board are only
advisory The organizations OF the
railway shop craft employees have re-
ceived a vote upon the question o. the
willingness OF these employees 70 con
tinue 20 render service under the re-
duced wages and changed working con.
ditions proposed by the Labor Board
and under the practices Of contracting
out work adopted by the carriers, de.
spite the disapproval Of the board and
the employees have voted almost unan-
inously not 20 work under such wages
and conditions.
1T should be noted that they never
have accepted any Of these terms, but
have only remained az work under nom
acceptable rules temporarily under
protest during the period necessary 70
determine their course Of action.
In this connection - should be
pointed out for the additional oonsid-
GRAFTON Of the board:
"l) That even assuming that sucn
decisions were IN accord with the re-
ouiremen.s OF the act. they should rot
he given constitutionally any force 20
compel men 90 work in the service OF
others. and
"t2l That refusal 20 continue 20
render service under wages and work
ing conditions whicn are not acceptable
Is not violation OF any decision OF the
board or Of any law
III IL is the intention Of the board 70
direct the employees 10 remain AZ work
under non-acceptable wages and work
ing conditions such order is void both
because j, is not within the powers Of
the board and because Il Is in violation
81 the Constitution Of the United
states.