The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-08-11

in their service .
s~tJnder these circumstances, It
becomes apparent that the rau-
roads cannot consider any settle
noent Of the present strike whAch
does not provide protection In
their present employment. both
to the loyal employees who re-
manned In the service, and to the
new employees entering 1t.
The executives had accepted the
first two conditions proposed by the
President, namely. that both employ
ers and employees accept the de-
cfsions of the Labor Board, and that
all lawsuits growing out OF the strike
be withdrawn; and in relation to the
third condition spoke not only as
quoted above, but also as foilows:-
Aoree win the President.
s~The railroad executives and man
ayers agree entirely with the Presi-
dents statement In his letter that II
ia wholly unthinkable that the rail-
road Labor Board can be made USE
full agency of the government In main
txtuing industrial peace In the railway
service unless employers and workers
ere both prompt and unquestioning In
their acceptance of its decisions.
MANY men in the service refused
tn ioin the strike and In 30 doing were
assured of the seniority rights accru1ng
TO them and of the permanency OF the
Jobs On some important lines some
fftv nercent of the men refused 10
ioin the strike. To these old loyal
EMPLOYEES have been added thousands
of new men who were employed ana
cou,d he secured only upon definite
promise that their services Wouio Do
retained regardless of the settlement
of the strike, with all the rights ap-
pertaining to such employment, IN
ending that of seniority, under the
working rules and regulations pre-
viously approved by the railroad LABOR
Board"
AUST The Opposite Effect"
eve especially point out that re-
fusal to the old men VINO remained
IN the service and to the new men
who accented service, Of the rights OF
seniority incident to their employ
upent, would have just the opposaee
eject to that desired BY the Preea-
Aeut and would most seriously oas-
credit the Labor Board.
.~The Board itself prescribed tne
Rnles of Seniority under which the
r,en referred TO have secured their
seniority rights, and the RAnroad
nanies have neither the legal NOT
moral right 10 deprive these men OF
those rights. By public utferanoeo
since the strfke began, the Board mas
recognised and emphasized ts
rights, and TO deny them now wouso
instead of uphording the Authority Oh
the Labor Board, overthrow It's rues
and discredit it's authority.
.The Chairman OF the Labor Board
at the time the strike was caaieo'
made the following public statements
.sUpon one question the striK-
ing employees should not be DE-
ceixed. their leader has said that
the STRIKERS are no longer en-
papyees Of the railways and they
have thus Automatically apan-
doned their rights they possess
r,r,der their agreements and unoer
th~ aecas6ozs of tho Board, In
~au.san~ tkssx ssnioxity. This 10 ncS
fhe Boards action. It Is tner
own
former enraoyees the opportunity
To re-en&sr The service wftnAn
limited time. 1t must be under-
.sood nov tf,a6 men who remained
! In the serv3ce and those who ara
rcxU erAsrtnx II win have right
OF seniority that the Board could
not ignore"
what The Proposed Plan Means
.Tt must be understood that am
proposal that employees now on STRIKE
shall be permitted to return to tht
service without impairment to thei'
seniority, 10 merely another way o
suggesting that those men who tool
smployment IN this crisis IN goo<
txath. relying on the promises OF th'
rnifroads 10 protect them IN thet
possttons, these promises being 1usd
ALed by the authoritative utterance
of the Labor Board, and thus haV
made possible the continued opera
t,on OF the railroads, shall now b
sacrificed In favor Of men now o.
strike who not only brought about IN
erisfs. but, by their own action an
deesaration, are no longer employee
of the railways under the jurisdictio
Of the United States Railroad Laoo
Board, or subject to the applicafio
of the Transportation Act.
'in addition to the necessity OF VI
holding the Labor Board and main
tanning the pledges made by the ran
roads to the men Row at work. Tier
"a the practical effect on the superv'
sorry officers of violation OF ID
pledges they were authorized to max
Their encouragement and demoraf
zation would be far more disastrot
than this or any other strike"