The New York herald., 1922-07-20
ALL EFFORTS TO END
RAIL WAY STRIKE FAIL

oldest in point of service being at the
top of the list, those newest In the SER
vice at the bottom.
On most railways there are not
enough places now for all the men en-
ployed and all who struck. If. therefore.
the strikers should all be allowed to go
Back to work with their former seniority
rights many OF the men now at work
would have to be laid off. Furthermore.
In periods when shops are not being run
to their capacity the position on the
seniority list determines what men shall
be kept and what men laid off. The po-
sition on the seniority list carries with
1t other rights and privileges. but the
foregoing are the most important rights
now involved.
'fNot only justice. but the public In
terest. demands that In any settlement
OF the strike the seniority rights OF
men who are now working shall be
recognized. If those who have struck
against the decisions of the labor board
and tried to interrupt transportation are
favored in any settlement that may be
made, the incentive of men to stay at
work in case of future strikes will be
destroyed and the difficulty Of maintains
ing transportation service Increased.
hl8ntS OF WORKERS.
THE men who have stayed at work
or accepted employment during the
strike have been given assurances OF
protection not only by the railroads
but by the Government itself. The Rail-
road Labor Board. in resolutions adopted
on July 8. said that: 1t must be con-
ceded that the men who remain in the
service and those who enter 1t anew
q xrrtth I'm, hal, v.fo IN n
employment: that they are not strike
breakers seeking to impose the arbitrary
will of an employer on employees; that
they have the moral as well as the legal
right to engage in such service of the
American public to avoid interruption OF
Indispensable railway transportation.
and that they are entitled to the pro-
lection Of every department and branch
of the Government, State and national
President Harding in his proclama-
ton on July 10. referred to the fact
that:
The maintained operation of the
railways in interstate commerce and the
transportation of the United States mails
have necessitated the employment OF
men who can choose to accept employ
ment on the terms Of the decision OF the
labor board and who have the same in
disputable right to work that others
have to decline work.
1.-THE labor board itself has especially
called attention to the fact that, as 1t
said in a statement issued by its chair
man on July 8, in this case the contro-
versy Is not, as In the former sense, be-
tween the carriers and their employees.
but that decisions in the matter In con-
troversy were rendered by the labor
board, a Government body. and that 1t
is fhese dAcfsians against which certain
of the employees strike In this state
ment Chairman Hooper said the men
who remain in their positions and new
men who may come in will be protected
by public sentiment and full govern
mental powers
Thus 1t will be seen the fact that
men who are now working have claims
upon the railways and the public supe-
rior to those of the strikers has been re-
peatedly recognized by governmental
bodies and officials. and that they nave
remained at work or gone to work with
the distinct understanding that their
rights will be protected"