New-York tribune., 1922-06-18

Nnfrffl DfArnffh 70 z Nf ff''A"1
CHICAGO, June i7.-Maicr.ty mrn-
bers or the United siaie- Railroad
Labor Board. who yesterday ordered
another slash n wages Of ihe nations
railway workers, to-day replied 90
criticism by minority members of NE
beard with the charge that ihe dissent
ing members presented "inecudIary
arguments IN a strained and eSaggersi-
ed effort 70 infame the employees 20
strike against the decisions Of the
board
The minority, constituting two ~ the
three labor members. was accused o.
Sowing some Of tho tiny seeds that
have qerminated and b'orsomed inte
industrial anarchy 10 Russia"
Yesterdays decision, which cat near,
ly $4,000 900 from tho wages of 525.'
600 railway clerks. signal men and.
stationary fremen, brought total re-
ductions. effective July l. under tne
boards orders, ~ 20 slolO0VDOO. Ap1
rroxima'ely 100000 railway employ
ces are affected r. The orders.
i,company yesterdays order,
carrying reductions ranging from
10 . cents an hour. was lengthy sup
pogs.ng or'nion from the members rep
resenting tho railroads and the public
and the dissenting opinion b. th" labor
members condemning the order
Rejorder By Majority
IN their promp, rcjoindcr to-day, the
majority members said in part,
"lt Is no. incumben. upon The six
members Of the bo9rd c0ncurrnc In
this decision 90 f,llow the minority
into p1rtisan controversy. which par
takes more Of the characteristics u
impassioned advocacy than Of calm ad-
judication.
In 80 far as the dissenting opinion
distcrts the sentiments ~ the major
i'v. misquotes then language and re-
Aects upon their desire and d position
20 do Justice. We will refrain irom com
ment We prefer 20 believe that these
ir1rroDriot'cs cropt into that part %
the document. which was drafted by the
emplovcos in thc headquarters ~ tho
railway department 4 The American
Federation ~ Labor. and that they we're
There Is ono feature % the dissent
ing argument, however. which is 80
unusual that i should not be passed
over without notice. and that is the
norton wherein the two dissenting
members advise the employees 20
strike against the decision of the
board.
"lt is something new for labor mem-
bors Of the board 70 issue ineendiery
arguments 20 employees IN favor OF
striking against a decision Of the
board. The giving Of advice Of this
Kind has heretofore been left 20 out.
siders. who were not under the oflclai
obligations imposed by tho transports-
ton ret. the main purpose OF which ~
10 prevent railway strikes and protect
the public from their dire effects.
Employees Opposed to Strike
"one OF the passages referred 20 Is
as follows:
substitute for the strike such Just ana
reasonable wages "a would render re-
sort TO strike unnecessary. X this
tribunal. created 20 determine such
wages. admits that under existing cif-
cumstances /. cannot fulfill this func-
ton, obviously tho employees must
Use such power as they hayo 20 inhu.
ence the labor market, which IS hence
forth 10 be the determining factor IN
their wages
"That Is to say. n the board makes
such admission the employees must
strike.
"Then the dissenting members pro-
ceed 10 remove the ~ and 10 assert
that the board has made the admission
which renders a strike necessary.
Language Distorted, Is Charge
"Not only do the minority step down
from the judicial position. which they
occupy 10 advise a strike, but they OBJ
viously distort and misconstrue the
language OF the majority IN order "a
provide the condition which they pro,
nounce a justidcation.
"This Is not the only place In the disi
senting opinion where the suggestion IS
made 10 the employees % strike. As
matter Of fact, the entire dissenting
opinion constitutes a strained and OK
aegerated effort 20 inhamc the END
ployees by the belief that they hay1
been grossly outraged by this. decision,
"A fair statement Of the facts viii
convince any dis,nterested man that nd
Injustice has been done 10 these EN-.
ployees by the present decision and that
the decrease in their wages Is conser,
vatiye and Is based upon the law and
the evidence"
Taking up the discussion OF stand,
II lt.rt,. a,A fha rntnortlvfa