The Connecticut labor news., 1923-01-19
PUBLIC IS AWAKENING
 TO SERIOUSNESS OF
 SHOPMENS STRIKE
After Seven Months, During Which the Strikers Have Remained Firm, the People Are Be-
 ginning to Realize What It Means.

The 'crowding to utmost capacity of Trades Council hall last Tuesday evening gave ample proof to the facr that the strike of the Railroad Shop crafts Is far from being an industrial battle that IS on the Wane; indeed by the enthusiasm and energy displayed by those in attendance 1t is difficult for one not familiar with this strike to believe that it has now gone on for nearly seven months. This strike is peculiar and different from most strikes in the way of showing an ever increasing effectiveness and a. like in crease in the interest of the public to whom the seriousness of this strike IS just becoming apparent, due to the freight embargos placed by the New Haven road and their recently ad- mitted inability to meet the demands made upon them for the transporta- tion of fuel
 Meetings of the strikers have been held heretofore in the morning but due to the ever increasing number of strikers who have taken temporary work elsewhere 1t became necessary to hold evening meetings for the accommodation of those unable to at tend the day meetings and last Tues days meeting was the second of such meetings and hereafter one will be held every week These meetings ar semi-public to the extent of being limited to strikers and their friends who may be interested and this re- striction has only been placed because of the limitations of the hail.
 At the meeting on last Tuesday night, after the routine reports of the general condition of the New Haven road, such as train delays, wrecks, extent of the embargos, shop forces, and officers reports were disposed of, the recent hangings in Harrison, Ark, of the Shop Craft strike leaders was given attention by Senator Tone are usually perpetrated by hired agents of the parties interested in mob rule, the attempt to discredit the Lawrence strikers a few years back by planting dynamite at the in stigation of the woolen trust, the de- portation of the Bisbee, Arizona, miners, the disclosure that the St. Louis race riots were the result of the packing trusts desire to break the unions; the Tulsa, Okla, riots in the oil fields and several more outrages committed against the organized workers of this country. In despera- ton the railroads are resorting to any means that may suggest itself as a method to break the morale of the striking shopmen.
 In this sectih of the country mob violence and open hostility toward the persons of the strikers has not yet taken place, but the courts have re- sorted on the slightest excuse to bring about the arrest and conviction if possible of the strikers, and by this means many heavy inroads upon their defense funds and treasury. "Such methods" said Senator Tone, "can be prevented if the workers of this coun- try will awaken to the fact that they must assist in the way of giving more attention to the laws which are the result of hostile legislation enacted by persons who do not represent their interests and also in the selecting of candidates who can be trusted to in terpret the law equally and judicious- ly.''
 The latest propaganda of the New Haven road, issued in the form of pamphlet requesting Flair play for the New Haven railroad" was given a scathing denunciation by a repre- sentative of the International Asso citation of Machinists, who quoted a long list of offenses committed by the New Haven railroad as exposed in the hearings before the Senate committee on interstate commerce. The investigations made by this body if known generally the public would forever eliminate the present methods of control by private interests of the railroads of this country, the demands would be instantaneous for the opera ton of the railroads by the govern ment.
 One of the great evils in railroad operation is the interlocking director ates. By this means the board of di- rectors can either make a road pros porous or bankrupt it by withholding freight or charging exorbitant rates for transfer. Again these directors may be interested in some of the many industries manufacturing rail- road supplies and in this way sell to themselves their own product at ex- orbitant prices. It was this method that was used so effectively by the New Haven officials that brought it and even today they resort to the old tactics of enriching themselves by these means as has been disclosed in the investigations. And they pass it all on to the public, for at this mo- ment they are asking for an increase of IS per cent in their freight rates
 The pamphlet in question is an ex- cellent example of how railroads de- liberately misstate the facts in their endeavors to make excuses tor the de plorable condition of their railroad and win to their side public sympathy which unwittingly believes the false facts and figures presented to them by a greedy and designing set of railroad officials.
 All members of organized labor are invited to attend these meetings of the Shop Craftsmen and there familiarize