The Connecticut labor press., 1920-12-04
NEW THREAT OF
 STRIKES UPON
 THE RAILROADS
Stone Says He will Cease to Hold Men Back Much
 Longer.
DEMANDS QUICK ACTION
Cites Situation of Award Made in July, Which Is Not
 Fulfilled.

Chicago, Dec. 3-Warning that the tra-conservative leaders of the railroad brotherhoods would cease their efforts to hold their men III check un- less some plan to adjust differences be- tween roads and employees Is found was delivered to the United States Railway Labor Board several adys ago by War ren s. Stone of Cleveland, grand chief of the Brotherhood of Railawy Engi- neers.
 Appearing before the board with officials of Is other recognized railway unions Mir. Stone announced that after being classed for "17 years as an ultra conservative, 1 have arrived at the point where I am through making ex- cuses to the men.
 There must be some plan found somewhere, some place whereby we can get results for these men.1 MT. Stone continued.
 The locomotive engineers have car. ried the load of responsibility for years
 We have tried to embody your boards decision of last July in agreements with 358 railroads, but only four of these agreements have been signed. The roads refuse to sign until the board passes on the question of rules" The decision last July raised railroad
 wages $6000O0000.
 With Mir. Stone appeared officials of the other employees organizations ask. ing that the board hold hearing to decide on the creation of national boards of adjustments which would hear and pass on controversies other than wage disputes. The matter has been pending for some time, due to the fact that adjustment boards created url- der United States government control |shave not jurisdiction over disputes arising since the roads passed to pri- yate control. As result of the officials declarations the board agreed to an immediate executive hearing on the re- quest and if it is decided to comply an early hearing will be set A motion, passed unanimously by the executive committee Of the 16 efl- ployes organizations, was read by E. Fl. Fitzgerald of the Brotherhood of Rail- awy and Steamship Clerks, express and station employees. The motion resolved to submit an ex parte statement of dis. putes with railroads on the matter of creation of national boards of adjust ment and asked for an immediate hear ing MT. Fitzgerald told the board that the situation was urgent
 w. G. Lee, president of the Brother hood of Railway Train<nen explained that the request concerned national boards which could hear and pass on controversies
 Action to change the present situa- ton IS necessary" declared Mir Lee. q do not refer to your jurisdiction or authority. I believe the majority of controversies Is not concerned with your decision of last July and the oper- ating officers feel that they are not bound by that decision
 "The chief executives of the men have told them they must adhere to the railway act, that they must submit any controversy to the board before taking strike vote or interfering with traffic. But if the operating officers are not bound there Is nothing left to do but go back to the old methods. That we do not want to do if we can help it."
 Speaking for the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors, l.. E. Shepherd, the president, told the board that the request concerned the board auxiliary to the labor board to which can be re- ferred questions not involving wages, with view to frightening and expedit- ing the present boards labors.