Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-22
REASON RATHER THANEPAssIoN,

M The letter OF Ed Leo, one of the local mem
bers Of the Order Of. Railway Conductors, to the
bel, and which is published with his consent, is note
worthy as being a calm and moderate statement
concerning a subject, the discussion Of which has
been marked by great bitterness.
MI. Leo believes that the facts concerning the
abandonment of trains in Arizona by members of
train crews have been mis-stated, or overstated.
Where occurrences in themselves are characterized
by elements which are sensational exagperation is
far from The tale often grows with the
telling of it until it would Be unrecognizable BY
those who are amiliar with the real facts. It is
doubtless true, as stated by the head of one of the
%trainmen's organizations, that the men in charge Of
the Santa Fe trains delivered them at their division
terminals. The delay in these cases was due to the
refusal of other train crews to take these trains on
toward their ultimate destinations. The result was
that the passengers were held, in some cases for
days at small settlements in an intensely hot country
where there are no facilities for taking care Of the
travellers. All the circumstances were believed by
the president of the United States sufficiently grave
to call from him the unreserved denunciation which
was contained in his recent address to congress.
But Mr.. Leo's letter is not published for the
purpose OF debating any Of the points which he
raises, but rather to call attention to the fact that
1t demonstrates the existence within the order of
which he is a member of spirit decidedly contrary
to that which frequently expresses itself in labor
controversies. Mr.. Leo indicates no sympathy and
offers no excuse for the violation of contracts by
laboring men or others, and he makes a plea for the
consideration of issues in a spirit of moderation and
fairness.
That attitude, we believe, characterizes the
generally of the labor organizations, and
especially of the great railway brotherhoods. 1t has
been said that war is being made on those organ
i~zations. 1t is probably true that here and there in
the ranks Of employers are to be found those who,
if they could, would destroy everything in the ma
ture of Labor organization. That this attitude is not
characteristic of employers generally there is abund-
ant evidence. But it is true that war is being made
on the labor organizations, and that there are at
work forces whose effect, if they prove to be effecz
tive. will be their disintegration. The menace is
from within rather than from without. If the labor
organizations can be maintained on the basis of fair
ness and moderation which Mr.. Leo eeunsels, no
external force can prevail against them. But within
their range are those whose purpose is destructive,
and who, if they are allowed to pervail, will surely
%obliterate all the benefits which honest labor has re-
ceived from the organization work of the past gen
Grafton.
In the interest of the millions whose capital, be
it much or little, is invested in the productive enter
prises of the country in the interest of the men
whose only capital is the labor of their hands, and
who have a right to expect that that labor will be
Justly and honorably compensated and in the in
terest of the vast general public, which is vitality in
terested in the preservation of every individual of
the right to labor, to enjoy the fruits of his labor,
and to enjoy in peace the property which he has
honorably accumulated, there is need for the appli-
cation of this spirit of moderation in the labor
unions, in the organizations of employers, and
everywhere that the activities of men are being
shaped and directed.