The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-27
SH0PMEN BEGIN
NATIONALVOTE
! ON RAIL STRIKE
Six Unions Answer Wilson
by Ordering a Nation
wide Referendum.
100000 MEN INVOLVED
Leaders Warn That Result
Affects Pay of 100000
Railroad Workers.
SEPT. 2 DATE STILL GOOD
Hines Says Presidents De-
cisiOn on Increases as
Given Is Final.
SEPT. 2 DATE STILL GOOD
Special Despatch to The Sun.

WASHINGTON, Aug. ga new strike
vote Is being sent broadcast to the
100000 or more railway shop en-
ployees in the United States and Can
ada tonight. International officers oi
the six shop unions involved are send
ing out a ballot which provides for a
simple yes or mo" answer on ac-
ceptance or rejection by the men OF
the 4 cents an hour wage advance al
lowed them by the President in his
decision yesterday. A negative vote
means a vote for a national railway
strike, not only in this country, but in
Canada as well.
No date is yet set for the strike II
one Is to be called. Union officers
however, are OF the opinion that it will
not be necessary to give a new thirty
day notice of strike to the Railroad
Administration. They hold the view
that the notice for a strike September
2 still holds good, as the issue then
involved in the vote still exists
September had been set as the
strike day when ballots were sent out
several weeks ago for a vote by the
union membership employed on the
railroads on the question, of accept
ance of the proposition of Director
General Hines for settlement of the
wage question by a new board to be
created by Congress or a strike to en-
force the full demands of the men.
Though tabulation Of this vote was
not completed before the issue was
killed by the new proposal from the
President the votes received were
overwhelmingly for strike to enforce
the original demands.
Present Issue simpIined.
The new issue is acceptance OF the
Presidents position and a cents an
hour advance or strike.
The attitude of union officials with re-
gard 10 strike was made plain to-day
when tho committee of one hundred
representing the shopmen told Walker D.
Hines, Director-General of Railroads.
that they could not accept the wage raise
offered in settlement of their demands.
but that the question was being put to a
referendum vote. They assured him that
the men would be fully informed The
DirectorGeneral again told them that
the Adm nistratiQn's position was final
Under the constitution and charters of
the shop craft two-thirds vote is neces-
sary to call strike. On the previous
issue at least 95 per cent Of the men
voted TO strike.
Officials of the railway employees de-
partment of the American Federation OF
Labor. which will receive and tabulate
the nav vote, are OF the opinion that IL
can be received and counted within seven
or eight days. Instructions have been
sent to the 5000 or more local unions to
take the vote as quickly as possible and
to forward the returns to Washington.
The instruct ons, the form OF ballot.
the Presidents appeal to the men and a
statement by their officers are being sent
out by mail for action by the locals at
"called meetings" II is said that the
distribution by mail Will be completed
throughout the country by Saturday, and
that by Tuesday, September ., the results
will begin to reach headquarters.
Leaders Await Ballot Result.
While TO definite statement was made
1t was indicated by the union offic ais
that the strike day would not be fixed
until the vote was in. provided the men
vote that way.
A significant warning is gwen to the
shopmen by their officers in the notifca-
. i,, Uo
quire a new strike vote. 1t is that the
men should not forget that II the Fed
Grated Shop Trades become involved In a
strike row you are striking alone to force
an increase for the two million railroad
employees"
The Canadian men are involved be-
cause of the agreement between the
United States and Canadian railroad ad-
to accord sim lar treatment
TO the men. Similar action has been
taken on all wage demands in the past
The administrations and the men stand
together on both sides of the boundary
. While the shop crafts affected have
many men employed outside Of the rail-
roads, only the half million men in
actual railroad employ will be permitted
to vote on the strike issue.
Director General of Railroads Hines
issued new instructions to-day to the
Board of Railroad Wages and Working
Conditions, making II clear that the no
sition taken with respect to the shop
men applied to all other railroad crafts
He emphasized that no general wage ad-
vances would be made, and that all de-
mands would have to be transmitted to
him for final action. This means that
demands from the brotherhoods and all
other sources for general Increases will
not be granted Adjustments will be
made wherever possible.
Text of Notification TO Unions,
The notification sent by union officials
and signed by all of the international
presidents follows:
"To the officers aud members Of the
railroad locals Of che International
Association Of ndchiniSts, Interna-
tiondl Brotherhood Of BIdoksmiths aud
Continued ON Sizth Page.