Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-01

fellow should be given more atten.
tion by the coach than the brawny.
muscled, vigorous athletic STAR
Prof. Gates Of Bowdoin College.
NELSON ON RAILROAD RESOLVE
J Congressman Nelson Of this Dis
trict opposed. in an able speech in the
House, Wednesday, the resolve I'M
der which 1t is proposed to eliminate
the public from any arrangement for
the adjustment Of railroad labor
troubles; in other words kill the
Labor Board.
Railroad labor Is solidly for it. The
richer railroads, that are able to
purchase industrial peace with higher
wages, agree to it. The Board has
not been satisfactory. as it was de-
MED practically all power other than
that Of publicity. The organizations
Of railroad employees have formulated
plan for an increase in wages
amounting to many millions and will
push 1t as soon as this Board is dis
posed Of and the public will no longer
have any voice in the settlement.
Maine is not SERVED by the richer
railroads. Already 1t is suffering
from the costs of transportation. In
creased wages would mean higher
freight rates. Names prosperity is
threatened.
1t required courage on the part of
Congressman Nelson to come out in
opposition to this measure approved
time when there seems to to be q
general disposition to follow the
lines Of least resistance and strive to
secure the votes Of organized labor
He sees the threat to Maine. He
recognizes that while the Labor
Board has been In noticeable degree
houted by both railroads and organ
lied labor it is a court into which
they hesitate to come and so are
driven to compose their differences
as should be. They do not want the
public to know too much" the
Board enables the public to form a
reasonable conclusion respecting a
controversy that may arise. They
would deprive it of that opportunity.
We have recently seen employers
and employees in the anthracite in
dustry endeavoring to make a goat
Of the public. to freeze it into sub
mission and get the politicians to
help do it. And We have recently
seen the public take hand. Once
railroads and strikers could settle at
the expense of the public. 1t might
be well for the reader to make COM
parison with those days and condi-
lions.
In his opening Mr.. Nelson said he
found himself in the unpleasant
situation of differing very materially
from his associates on the Interstate
Commerce Committee. We wish we
might quote the whole of the speech,
but here are parts:
Il come from a State situated in
the extreme northeastern section of
tht0 5lCdS NOuIllly1 WuSIS IIl6 Trans
\ portation problem is to-day a very
vital issue. 1t is a long haul from
the source of raw materials to our
mills; it is a long haul back to mar
ket. Transportation charges to-day
are such that the growth Of my
State is retarded, it's industries
threatened with extinction, and the
welfare OF our great agricultural
and industrial classes imperiled. At
the present time there is pending
before the Interstate Commerce
Commission a request for increased
freight charges in Eastern Maine,
the result of which, if granted, /
can only contemplate with dismay.
THE railroads Of my State, at
peace with their employees, have just
begun to turn the corner. just begun
to recover from the effects of war
time operation, and We in Maine
had begun to believe that, in a time
not too far removed for joyful hope,
the increased prosperity Of those
roads might be reflected in a much
needed and beneficial reduction Of
freight charges.
NOW, am in sympathy with
organized labor, it's needs, and as
pirations. I believe that we should
safeguard their every essential right.
I would go with them as far as any
legislator can honestly go. and that
Is to point where believe that the
interests Of the minority conflict with
the interests Of the whole. To 60
further than that would be to iusti-
~ the suspicion, somewhat prevalent,
that organized minorities and selfish
interests play disproportionate
part in the the shaping Of legisla-
ton here. and that the great mass
of our people are not truly repre-
scented.
The situation that challenges our
attention to-day is this: A railway
labor bill IL presented here for en-.
actment that in my opinion, wipes
out every existing public safeguard
tapplause), and coincident with its
presentation comes a demand from
railroad labor for wage increases
variously estimated at from $4,000
600 to $6oo.ooo.ooo. Ny friends, /
40 not know what sort Of farm re-
uet legislation we are going to pass
~ this Congress; but, in my opinion.
Il this bill Is enacted agriculture is
before.
-! peneve q study OF the situation
|1u convince the investigators that
ne carriers In favor Of this measure,
with possibly a few exceptions, repre-
sent principally the larger and the
more prosperous eastern roads, roads
tnuD!ect to the recapture clause. roads
49, ere aole and willing to purchase
"uos1'si peace by distributing to