Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-02
UNFOLDING RESPECT FOR RAILROAD LABOR
BOARD
BOARD

iy of the Railroad Labor Board be recognized and its deci-
sions be faithfully carried out and in the same letter he pro-
posed that the authority of the board be ignored and its de-
cision rejected. This is no way to maintain the power and
dignity of the Railroad Labor Board and make it respected
in the future when disputes between the railroad employees
and executives arise.
In the first place, the men defed the United States
Railroad Labor Board when they went out on strike. 1t was
not the railroads that announced a reduction in wages which
was the primary reason for the walk-out. The reduction
was the act of the Railroad Labor Board; it was that boards
decision and because it was not what the men wanted they
called q strike. The President, in his letter, says he thinks
it more desirable than he knows how to express ito have es-
tablished the unchalenged authority of the Railroad Labor
Board" Yet the shop craft employees of the railroads DELHI
erately challenged the authority of the board and have done
everything within their power TO destroy the power anu IN
fluence of the board.
In doing this they have deliberately deied the United
States government because the labor board is a branch of
the government created by congress. This was realized by
the other railroad unions, particularly the big four
brotherhoods, and they absolutely refused to have anything
to do with the strike from the very beginning.
But the shop craft unions which went out on strike are
now realizing their mistake. The strike is no longer over the
matter of wage reduction; the men are willing to accept that
pending a rehearing of their case. Their fight now is that
they be taken back with all their seniority rights restored.
And the President is asking the railroad executives to agree
10 this in spite of the fact that it is absolutely contrary to
the stand already taken by the Railroad Labor Board and a
Haunting of its authority which the President desires most of
all to be upheld.
In a statement issued July 4 after the men had gone out
on strike, Ben W.. Hooper, chairman of the Railroad Labor
Board, said:
Disputes as to rules and wages were submitted
and the evidence and arguments fully presented on
both sides. Decisions of these disputes were handed
down by the United States Railroad Labor Board. 1t is
these decisions against which certain of the employees
strike.
Regardless of any question as to their right to
strike, the new men who take their places are merely
accepting what is equivalent to an open position, the
wages and working conditions of which have been duly
established by a governmental tribunal. They are not
accepting wages and conditions which an employer is
attempting arbitrarily to impose upon the striking en-
ployes.
'Under these circumstances it is a foregone con-
cusion that both public sentiment and governmental
power will protect the men who remain in the service
Of the carriers and the new men who take the servIce."
Now President Harding, in his letter proposing terms
Tor settling the strike, asks the chairman of the United
States Labor Board to eat his own words. Having pledged
governmental power" to protect the 'men who remain in
the service of the carriers and the new men who take the
service" the President proposes that the labor board break
faith with the men who took the board at its word and placed
their confidence in the boards authority.
Who could put faith and confidence in the Railroad
Labor Board after such double dealing as that? The rail-
road executives, in rejecting the proposal of the President
that the seniority of the men who defied the United States
Railroad Labor Board and quit work be recognized, are, in
truth, unfolding the labor board and making its AUTHORITY
respected. The railroads, recognizing the full authority of
the labor board, have, on the strength of the labor boards
decisions and announcements, promised protection to the
new men who come into their employ. 1t would only dis
credit the railroads as well as the governments own labor
board to deliberately throw these men down after what has
been promised them. The very first proposition as made by
the President himself, that all decisions of the labor board
be faithfully carried out, would be shot to pieces.
No, as much as it is desired that the strike be settled, it
is most essential that the authority of the government he
recognized and those who defy the power of the govern
ment must take the consequences. An object lesson along
this line is sadly needed. The railroad strikers were fully
warned before they went out. They thought they could
ignore the government authority and bring the railroads to
their knees. If they had had their way the United States
Labor Board would have passed out of existence as being
Of no use. If this board is to continue to function-and
there is great need for tit must be respected no matter
whether its decisions are approved or not. 1-ha