The Connecticut labor news., 1923-01-19
READY MAKES SHARP REPLY TO
 "FAIR PLAY''

John C. Ready, chairman of the striking shop crafts, yesterday issued a statement in answer to the pamph- let sent out by the New Haven road and entitled Fair Play" in which he says that the pamphlet is merely an appeal for public sympathy for the l railroads and is full of false state ments Stating that he is mot one bit surprised that the locomotives of the this time. It would be reflection on our work if they had given out any sooner. Our men left the power on the road in an excellent condition on July I, but 1 believe that from now on the number of engine failures will increase tWofold."
 The statement in part follows: At the time of our withdrawal from the shops the trains were all running on time and the company had at least 100 engines repaired and stored away, another compliment to our ability to perform our work satisfactory, although the officials have stated in the press time and time again that they have better men in the shops than before July Ist.
 T have just read pamphlet sent to the public by the New Haven of
 
 the New Haven road. Fair Play makes one smile, after reading the said little book. One who is famil far with the shop work of the New Haven road, the whole thing from cover to cover was put out to fool the public and create public sym pathy towards the railroad. It Is full of false statements or else the off cials are willing to admit that they have not been on to their job for the last few years.
 "They state that at the Readville shops they are turning out more work with a smaller amount of men than they were before July Ist with larger force; what an admission to make! Our men at that point should never have gone out ion strike July Ist. They should have been places or else the officials who re- tained them in service should be let out for the good of the service. The old men at that point had been em- ployed from five to 30 years.
 "They further state that on July Ist 5,4oo men quit work and on Dec. 2o they have 6,4oo men filling their places, we'll take it for what 1t is worth When we quit work trains were all running on time,, power of the road was in fine shape and the road did not have to give out their work to outside shops. Now with over 1000 more men than they ever had repairing their power they have, so they say, 400 engines out to outside shops for repairs, costing them three times as much money for each engine than before when doing them in their
 
 they. have received back from the figures, AZ engines, in six months; some progress. Before the strike the output from the New Haven and Readville shops for every month was o5 engines, and for the last six months would have been 3oo engines, some difference from what they are getting at present, with over 1000 more men.
 Another paragraph states That if we had taken the men back in body they would have dominated the shops That is the true feason why the New Haven officials are, contin- uing the present lockout of the shop men and not because they have prom i sed the so-called loyal men anything. It is purely a drive to break up all : labor organizations on the road, al though they are trying hard to form i one of their own on closed shop l basis.
 q also notice in the press that there is more than enough coal in New Haven but it is impossible to i transport it on account of the con ditions oft streets. Well, if any body desires any coal just call on any ] coal dealer and see just what the on the coal question are; trv and get it!"