The New York herald., 1922-06-30
LABOR BOARD COMMANDS
RAILROAD SIDES TO CONFER

struet the flow OF interstate commerce
in this vast continental nation. Rail
way transportation is not private busi-
ness. 1t is essential TO the very exist
ence of our republic and to the indi-
vidual well being of every citizen.
IT do not hesitate TO make the pre-
diction that never again win there be
a successful railroad strike OF any con-
siderable proportions of Importance In
this country. The people will not stand
for II.
There must be peace on the railroads.
This cannot be obtained by leaving the
carriers free to impose unjust condi-
tions upon the employees. or by per-
mitting the employees by organizations,
however powerful to impose unfair con-
ditions upon the carriers and unbear-
able burdens upon the public.
ANY tribunal having a jurisdiction
similar to that of the Railroad Labor
Board will make mistakes. but the fact
that somebody criticises the action of
the board does not even raise a pre-
sumption that mistake has been made.
In these strenuously contested disputes
before this board. somebody is always
dissatisfied with the results.
Leaders Are Harassed.
'"The able men representing the en-
ployees put their whole souls into their
contentious and the questions they ham
die are of momentous human import.
They are doubtless often harassed by
the apprehensions, as are all public SER
wants that their constituents may not
fully understand and appreciate their ef-
forts.
1T Is quite natural that they should
take deeply TO heart even a partial fail
q n,.n
fits which they sesk for those they so
Loyalty represent
But IL Is evident to every student OF
the situation that the railway labor
organizations have no just cause for
serious complaint at the treatment they
have received at the hands of the Fed
eral wage tribunals during the war
period and since.
The wages fixed by the recent de-
cisions of this board will purchase more
than the wages received by them prior
to the war. In other words. their wages
have increased by a greater percentage
than has the cost of living In some
instances the increase is strikingly nota-
BILE.
with but slight exceptions the great
carriers of the country have paid the
wages fixed by the Government tribunals
Now that the decreases have come the
employees should be good sports and
accept tile reductions.
IT a, change In conditions should at
any time justify increased wages this
board will most cheerfuly respond to the
situation. Moreover, II it should at any
time be made to appear to the board that
any injustice has been done to any class
OF employees by any rule or wage de-
cision. under a continuation of the pres
ent conditions, 1t would be the duty OF
the board to correct such mistakes.
Has Made No Mistake.
Let it be understood. however, that
the board is convinced at this time that
II has made no mistake and committed
no Injustice Of any noteworthy magni-
tude In It's decisions on rules and wages.
The board has endeavored TO conform
TO the requirements OF the law and has
established schedule OF wages higher
than those prevailing. as n rule. In other
industries.
The employees 30 have one substan-
tial grievance again. certain OF the
carriers. and that Is the contracting OF
railway employment tO so-called inde-
pendent contractors This is not simply
a labor grievance. II II a public griev-
ance. This policy carried TO its legi-
innate end. destroys the labor articles
of the transportation act treats the
United States Congress with contempt
deprves the public of lawful protec-
tion from railway labor troubles and
grievously imposes upon the employees
1T is highly gratifying, however,
that several of the carriers have with
drawn from the contract policy this
week and 1t is hoped that all the others
will follow.
Let both the carriers and the en-
ployees deal fairly with each other
and both can come before the court of
public opinion with clean hands"