Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-06-26
July 20 Is Date Fixed for
Making Wage Award
Effective May |, Says
Chairman Barton.
Walk-Out Scheduled for
Saturday Averted by
Statement of Prompt
Settlement of Claim.

Chicago, June 25.--A decision
on the demands of railroad en-
ployes for wage increases will be
made on or before July 20 by the
railway labor board, Judge r. M.
Barton, chairman, in a statement
said late today. The award would
be retroactive to May I, the state
ment said.
According to W. G. Lee, president
Of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen and spokesman for union
leaders who gathered here, the
boards declaration would end all
danger of a general railroad strike.
Mr.. Lee said that efforts have
been made by disaffected union
element to spread the strike
throughout the country because of
the continued delay In announcing
the wage ruling.
"The men would have quit at midnight
tomorrow night" Mr.. Lee said. 1T was
impossible to hold them longer. Men of
my organization have been waiting pa
tiently for nearly year"
The boards statement declared that
an agreement on a method OF working
out the wage problems had been reached
and that no time woud be lost in reach
ing conclusion.
Lee and other representatives of the
IetORDlZPu DCOIDeTIOOuS "Bp H'lt
today to discuss the wage situation. said
there was no doubt that the men would
be satisfied with the promise of a de-
cson to relieve their impatence.
General chairmen of the Is recognized
railroad organizations will meet in Chi
cago on July 10 TO consider and pass on
the awards by the board, it was an
nounced.
1--WE came here to prevent strike
and at the same time to obtain full salts
faction for the men," Timothy Shea.
president of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen, said in commenting on
the boards announcement.
1--WE have held our men back for three
months. ever since the outlaw strikes
began. We have lost 10000 men by re
yoking charters of unions which called
walkouts. We could not hold the others
another week, if the board had not
promised us to announce its decision IN
the immediate future"
Resolutions reiterating statements of
the Chicago yardmen's association that
its members, who were the first to start
the vacation "walkouts" would not re-
turn to work until their full seniority
rights were restored, were adopted at
mass meeting called by the Association
tonight for the announced purpose Of
presenting their side of the case to the
public
The resolutions appeal to the press
and various civic and commercial or
CARNATIONS to urge the interstate com
merce commission to restore their
seniority rights and copies will be sent
to the Democratic national convention
at San Francisco.
John Grupau, president of the organ
ization, in his address said:
''But for the inefficiency of the men
at the head Of the railroad brOtherhoods
Iiffict,ltioc haty ha and tho
roads would have been settled within
two weeks.
Because the brotherhoods failed us.
more than 275,000 men now have left
the roads and their places are being
taken by 16-Hear old youths, in violation
of law. As a result of the inefficiency
of these boys daily murder is being COM
mitted, the hospitals are filling with
legless and armless men and millions of
dollars worth of equipment is being de-
stroyed.
'.The brotherhoods approved the an
nouncement of the railroad board that
its decision would be made by July 20
to save their own bread and butter.
They knew nearly every man in the
service would join us unless they took
prompt action to stop it. Sixty per cent
of the railroad workers have taken other
jobs since we organized and they will
never go back until seniority rights and
higher pay are granted. We are not to
be starved out"
Washington. June 25-Announcement
by the railroad labor board in Chicago
Friday that its award in the pending
wage controversy would be given on or
before July 20 is expected both by gov
ernment officials and railway union
heads to exercise a powerful influence
in alleviating unrest among the workers.
Setting of definite date for hand
ing down the award was received with
undisguised satisfaction by union heads
who were plainly worried by the spo-
radio strikes in Baltimore, Philadelphia
and other eastern railway centers. They
said tonight that not only could the
announcement by the board be expect
ed TO prevent the spread of the walk
outs. but it would undoubtedly tend to
bring about the return of workers now
out.
Philadelphia, June 25.--Railroad offic-
falls here Friday night took steps to end
the yardmen's strike, which for week
has seriously interfered with the move
ment of freight.
Th Baltimore and Ohio announced that
all employs of that company who walked
out and have failed to return to work
have been discharged and their places
are being filled by men, while Agnew
r. Dice. president of the Reading rail
way. notified the strikers they would
have to resume work Immediately or
leave the service.