The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-06-26
PENNSY MEN
QUIT IN EAST
DESPITE RULE
Another General Strike Only
Averted by Action of
Board, Head of Brother
hood Announces.
POINTS TO IMPATIENCE
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
PHILADELPHIA, June rs, Despite the
labor boards announcement Of an
early adjustment OF the railway en-
ployes' grievances and that the decis-
ion would be retroactive to May l,
Pennsylvania railroad shopmen in this
city were reported today to have voted
to join the walkout of the yardmen.
The company employs about 1900
men at its local shops. and strike
leaders announced that virtually all
Of them attended the meeting, and
that the vote to strike was nearly
unanimous.
The shopmen have no connection
with the railroad brotherhood, but arc
affiliated with the American Fedora
ton of labor. Officials Of the company
said that although they did not be-
lieve any large number would quit,
they, nevertheless, were preparing for
such an eventuality. They admitted
that some had walked out during the
night.
The local situation in the yardmen's
strike today remained unchanged. Re
ports from upstate points showed
gains for the strikers, and that the
walk-out has caused a number of in
dustries to shut down because Of a
coal shortage
Twenty-four crews of the Reading
railroad joined the strike last night at
Coatsville, causing a partial suspen-
sion at the Midvale and Luken's steel
mills. At Shenandoah all the Phil
adelphia & Reading colliers were
forced to suspend for want of coal
cars. Eight collieries are idle in the
Pottsville district. Present traffice in
the yards at Reading was virtually at
q standstill.
CHICAGO, June 26-W. G. Lee.
president of the brotherhood OF rail-
way trainmen, today began work in an
effort to bring back into brotherhood
ranks the $4,000 workers expelled for
taking part in unauthorized strikes
within the past year
with the promise of wage scale
decision before July 20. retroactive to
July l, there is no reason for further
dissension," said Lee. Already we
have taken back $4,000 of the 10000
men who were expelled and we VIII
take back others who show willing
ness to make amends"
Lee remained in Chicago while other
leaders Of the big four brotherhoods
returned to their homes. He was in
wire commune alton with leaders of
his organization all over the country
and declared his belief that efforts to
take out trainmen and yardmen at
midnight would prove futile.
It was reported that the board.
which has been in executive session
three weeks. has agreed on a tenta-
tive average increase of % per cent.
Members of the board refused to cor
roborate this report.
A decision on the demands OF rail-
road employees for wage increase will
be made on or before July 20 by the
railway labor board. Judge R. M. Bar
ton, chairman, said in a statement late
Friday.
The award would be retroactive to
May l, the statement said
According to Mr.. Lee, president Of
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
and spokesm for union leaders who
gathered here today, the boards de-
claration would end all danger Of a
general railroad strike.
Mr.. Lee said secret plans had been
made by q dsaffected union element
to spread the strike throughout the
country because of the continued de-
lay in announcing the wage ruling
Ready To Strike
THE men would have quit at mid
night tomorrow night" Lee said. "It
was impossible to hold them longer.
Men of my organization have been
waiting patiently for nearly year"
The railway boards statement de-
clared that an agreement on method
of working out the wage problems had
been arrived at and that no time
would be lost in reaching a conclu-
sion.
Lee and other representatives Of
the organized railroad brotherhoods
who met here today to discuss the
railroad wage situation said there was
no doubt the men would be satisfied
with the promise of a decision.
"Was the decision the result of
warning of a probable strike brought
by you and your associates to the
board?" Lee was asked.
you can draw your own conclu-
sions as to that" Lee answered.
WASHINGTON, June 26.-The bill.
lion dollar freight increase asked for
by the railroads Of the country is ap-
proxima tely s3S6,o00,0oo more than
will be necessary to give the six per
cent standard return guaranteed by
the transportation act. Clifford
Thorne, representing shippers. esti-
mated today at the general rate hear
ing before the interstate commerce
commission.
Presenting arguments to support
his contention, Mr.. Thorne said the
book value" of $40, SOC. .000, 900 used
by the roads in computing the return
was excessive by several billion dol
lars.
In other words" he said, I'VE are
asked to consider the value Of Amer.
lean railroads to be three thousand
million dollars greater than the total
par value Of their stocks and bonds
Outstandiug"