The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-23
R.R. Men! Slam the Brakes
ON RooSeVelt's Pay Cutting

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DAILROAD workers were the first to feel
IL the effects Of those lessons, President
Roosevelt boosted he so we'll learned, from
the voracious barracuda and man-eating
sharks on his recent fishing trip.
In letter to Joseph B. Eastman, read
to the railway labor executives of the q
standard railway unions, Roosevelt in
sisted that the profits of the rich railroad
magnates be preserved at the expense of extending
the 10 per cent wage cut for all railroad work
ers from July /. 1884 to January l. 1885 The
president Of the forgotten man" never forgets
to fill the pockets of the railroad bOndholders
and coupon clippers
STOPPING 10 the vilest hypocrisy Roosevelt tried
to tell the railroad workers that he will see to it
that the profits which he admits are increasing
the railroads will be used TO benefit unemployed
railroad workers That comes from the President
who drove 100000 C. W. A. workers out of jobs
It comes from the President who spends billions for
war while sashing unemployment relief
II is an insult to the intelligence and expert
ence Of the railroad workers.
The railroad labor executives are greatly dis
turbed by Roosevelts latest pronouncements. They
are in the position Of maneuvering to help Roose-
welt and the railroad Bosses and yet meeting the
tremendous growing discomfort Of the rank and fife
In an evidently inspired interview with the New
York Times, A. F. Whitney chief spokesman for
the railroad labor executives talks big Of Strike
He knows that strike action is in the mind of the
rank and file who other way Of stopping
the further slash of their wages when the cost
OF living mounts skyward. Our only alternative
appears to call for strike ballot in order to prove
our point in this matter"
observe the sliminess Of this statement. He
wants a strike ballot not to call a strike, but to
prove that the railroad workers do not want wage
cut The railroad executives will the strike bal
lot to extend negotiations to drag the conferences
on, to wear out the workers to bind them hand
and foot to the compulsory arbitration scrkebreak-
ing Railroad Labor Act.
In order to protect President Roosevelt in the
eyes of the indignant and enraged railroad work
ers, Mr.. Whitney declared: I'VE have no fault to
find with President Roosevelt or co-ordinator East
man" No fault to find with the chief government
representative Of the railroad Bosses who uses the
government machinery to slash the railroad work
ers' pay No fault to find with the President who
saved the automobile bosses from strike for higher
pay and union recognition with the help Of the A.
F. Of L. officialdom! Mr.. Whitney on behalf of
OIlt railway IdDOI eAeCuIlNeo SEEKS lOW 10 prepare
the railroad workers to submit to the inevitable
strikebreaking that Roosevelt will try to put over
on the railroad workers
What frightens the railroad magnates and the
railroad labor officialdom is the undenied and grow
ing miltancy Of the railroad union rank and file
THE issues clear the nOOn-day
The Roosevelt government is using all
Its force to preserve the profits of the railroad
bosses at the expense Of holding down the wages
of the railroad workers The OfficialdOm is work
ing with might and main to keep the workers
faith in this Wall Street president and in his
strikebreakng maneuvers
There is only one way out for the railroad
workers The rank and file of every railroad
lodge in the country must answer this wage
cutting dictate of Roosevelt and the railroad own
ers by voting in favor of strike They should not
wait for the formal ballot of their msIeaders.
They should elect their rank and file strike
committee, they should mobilize their forces to
carry through strike. Continuation of negOtia-
tons works against the interest of the rail-
road workers. The officials must be called back
from Washington. The battle must be prepared
the railroads. The only way to force an end
to the wage cut and an increase in pay is by the
actual stoppage of the railroads.
Roosevelt has already indicated he is 100 per
cent behind the railroad exploiters The strike bal
lot threat" of Mr.. Whitney and Co. plays right
into his hands, because it opens the way for a be-
trayal similar to that handed to the auto workers
This must not be allowed to be repeated on the
railroads, and it up to the rank and file to take
steps now to see that their strike preparations are
not damned like the A. F. of L. leaders damned
the auto strike.
That pressure of the rank and file, which the
railroad executives fear must be translated into
sction-the immediate preparation for strike The
railroad workers ready for this strike They
must set up the machinery from below by them
selves, to carry this strike into effect.
Roosevelt has spoken for the government of
the railroad owners. The rank and file must now
speak for railroad labor. And they must speak by
action-by strike!