Imperial Valley press., 1938-09-02

llgHteu Dy SpeecneS from
Mondays speakers, however, will
say little about the Number One
problem of the day-namely, the
widening gulf between employers
and workers. Scant attention will
be paid to the great need for a
new spirit of cooperation in busi-
ness.
Recently in this column, / dis
cussed the railroads. I told of their
financial troubles and how they
were trying to avoid additional re-
ceiverships through big economies
in operating costs. I forecast that
railroad workers would be forced
to accept a compromise reduction
in pay as their contribution to
keeping the carriers in operation.
I emphasized that because pay
rates had been unjustly boosted last
fall, thousands more of employees
are now jobless than would be If
wage scales had been more in line
with railroad revenues.
A Labor Leaders Reply
Several days later I received the
following letter from the president
of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen-one of the four big un-
ions which control railroad labor.
I am quoting it because it gives
an interesting insight into the at
titude of those who strongly influ-
ence workers actions:
". Need comment about your
ready display of callousness toward
railroad employees or your misery
contemplation of the loot awaiting
the grasping Wall Street gang?
Railroad labor and the American
public are on to your game. We
know that the carriers are seeking
a wage cut in order to divert more
wealth into the channels of the
bankers and bOndholders. We know
that economists, like yourself, lend
aid and comfort to such modern
highway robbery. We know, too
that there is not one spark of de-
cency or humanity in any man who
gloats over great unemployment In
the railroad industry
I'm fact, you are due for a rude
awakening. We do not intend to
take any wage cuts, for we believe
in a prosperity that extends to all
the people, not just to the few
vultures and magpies with whom
you consort. We believe in support
ing the Presidents recovery pro-
gram, to the end that railroad
bankers and their economic advis-
ers will be eliminated from the
scene. It is their liquidation, not
that of railroad labor, which will
be a boon to the industry and tc
the national economy"
(Signed A. F. WHITNEY,
President.
Note that Mr. Whitney avoided
mentioning the following vital COM
ment in my article: 'The net re.
suit (of labor's demands) is that
railroad wages are today the high
est on record and the number Of
workers the lowest in 40 years.
1t would be difficult for Mr.. Whit.
ney to show that the high-Wagt
policy of the Brotherhoods ha!
helped the thousands of his fellow
workers who have been fired ii
order to cut down expenses! No
would the millions of workers il
allied industries, who are idle be-
cause railroads are SO poor tina
they cannot buy the new equipmen
which they need, agree that higl
wages bring about "prOsperit.
which extends to all the people.
Bondholders Not Public Enemies
The point in Mr.. Whitney's letter
however, which bothers me mos
is this: eve know that the carrier
are seeking a wage cut in order II
divert more wealth into the chan
nels of the bankers and bond
holders" Why does he think tn
bondholders are not entitled to fai
play? These bondholders are no
public enemies. They are insurance
companies, savings banks, colleges
hospitals, churches, and individuals
They loaned money to build track
and depots, to buy locomotives ant
freight cars-the equipment which
gives railroad workers their jobs.
Today, railroads representing ont
third of the nations mileage arr
paying no interest on these bono
loans. Moreover, only a small por'
ton of the original dollar loaned
may ever be paid back unless wage.
are reduced to compare with wage.
paid in other industries. Further
more, the other tWo-thirds of thu
carrier system has been skating
along the brink of bankruptcy. II
railroad workers are entitled to the
highest wage rates in history, ther
bondholders are at least entitled tc
the agreed interest and repayment
of the money they loaned to pro-
vide these employees with their jobs
Hurting Their Own Cause
However, I doubt if Mr.. Whit
ney's attitude is approved by intel
ligent wage workers. They know