The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-06-04
BY VIM. z. FOSTER.


IMPORTANT mass struggles are looming on
i the railroads. The companies are preparing
to cut the workers wages The labor bureau
Gratis are shaping up to help them do IT. Inc
National Railroad Industrial League is mobilz-
ing the workers to strike against the threaten
ing cuts All Of which is leading straight to
mass struggles of major character on the
railroads
It is plain that the railroad magnates are
now out to back up their intense speedup on
the railroads by making wholesale slashes IN
railroad wages For weeks past they have been
preparing the public mind for this by SYSTEM
attic propaganda in the capitalist papers Now
they are taking definite steps to this end. Their
program is brutal and insidious.
The railroads are starting out by demanding
that the Interstate Commerce Commission
grant them large increases in freight and pas
senger rates They know that, with the coun-
try in crisis and price levels falling generally
their chances to get substantial rate increases
are not good But they aim to win in another
way. They will utilize a refusal or only partial
response to their demands as an excuse for
deep slash in railroad wages
Naturally, the companies will count on the
labor takers to help put across their wage cut
Nor will they be disappointed. The railroad
-
an elaborate and insdous cleft" maneuver
That is. they will make a sham resistance while
at the same time steering the movement into
channels of surrender
The way the little game is planned is this:
When the companies finally make definite wage
cut demands, the A F. L. and Brotherhood
leaders will vociferously oppose them. They will
talk resistance and make show of militancy
(aI of which will enthuse Mr.. Muste) They
will even take strike votes of the workers.
All this will mean nothing except to throw
dust in the eyes of the workers In due season,
the companies the government and the labor
takers will play their trump card, the Watson
Parker law When the sham battle has gone
: far enough so that the labor misleaders hope
they may retain their hold upon the workers,
then the government, under the terms OF the
watson-Psrker law, will step in, declare state
of emergency and steer the whole thing into
arbitration where, of course the railroads VIII
get the wage cut they demand.
Although the Watson Parker Law arbitra-
ton is technically voluntary" the government
can easily create situation where in prac-
tice it becomes compulsory And in any event,
the A. F. L. and R. R. union leaders, who all
s,rnnorted the Watson-Parker Law, will make
no fight against its application in the 'emer-
gency.'
Indeed already these union chiefs are pre-
pairing the workers minds to accept a wage
cut. They are putting forward the 6-hour day
with corresponding cut in pay, and they are
circulating among the workers, through their
devious union channels, arguments to the ell
feet that owing to the Large" decreases in the
cost of living, the railroad workers must accept
pay reductions
Thus the stage is all set, with unparalleled
trimmings of hypocrisy and camouflage, for
further wholesale reduction in the railroad
workers standards of living. The program OF
the treacherous labor leaders fits in perfectly
with that Of the railroad companies. The rail-
road workers are up against cold-blooded
united front of government, companies and
labor takers
1t is the basic task of the National Railroad
Industrial League TO mobilize the railroad work.
ers to smash this gigantic conspiracy. This can
only be done by organizing the workers to strike
against the impending wage cut and against
the unholy trinity of government, bosses and
union leaders who are trying to put it into eff
feet But in turn the National Railroad In
dustrial League can accomplish this only If 1t
has the undivided support of every TUUL Or
ganization The struggle against the railroad
wage cut now must occupy the very center Of
TUUL work everywhere.
The National Railroad industrial League has
launched a most active campaign TO fight the
coming wage slash Its central slogan is Or
rarize and Strike Against Wage Cuts" This Ii
tnks ND With its tight for the 6.hosu day with.