The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-26
Orders Issued at Secret Meeting,
Workers Declare.
Brotherhood Chiefs Claim
WaIkOut Has Been Ayerted.
LATE WAGE DECISION is CAUSE
Yardmen Disguised When Told
to Wait Until July 20.
More Reports Received of "Va-
cations" Being Taken.

Washington. June 26.-Railroad
workers met secretly here today and
decided to quit work at 10 O'Clock to-
night unless ordered to call off their
walkout by higher officials of the
railroad unions, according to men who
said they attended the meeting.
Reports were again circulated that
there would be a general nationwide
walkout at 10 o'clock tonight unless
the railroad labor board gave more
definite promises as to wag awards
Brotherhood officials here were si-
lent as to strike reports.
Government officials today quietly
began preparations for a possible gen.
eral unauthorized" railroad strike at
midnight tonight. following word that
the railroad labor board would not be
ready with a decision before July 20.
Public officials late yesterday were
advised a general walk out tonight
was in prospect.
Decide Future of Outlaws.
Chicago. June 26.-The future of
outlaw organizations of railroad
workers may be determined Monday
when officials of the railway brother
| hoods meet here. j. S. Anderson, vice
/ president of the International Associa-
tion of Railway Mechanists. was au-
thority for the statement that the
outlaws would be among the prin-
cipal topics Monday
Anderson said the fact that wage in
creases had been slow in coming. and
that unusual patience had been shown
| by railroads in general would be taken
! into consideration.
Anderson said. he understood rail-
road men in the east voted to strike
tonight. He said it was reported men
were out in Baltimore and Philadel-
phia and would be followed by others
/ tonight.
B. NJ. Jewell, president of the shop
workers; Timothy. Shea of the fire
men; L. E.. Shepperd of the Condue-
tors; w. G. Lee of the trainmen. and
W. n. Doak, vice president of the
trainmen, were here today, and other
organization leaders were to arrive to-
night and tomorrow.
4 Chiefs say Strike Averted.
{ A threatened rail strike was avert
ed, railroad brotherhood leaders
said today, when the United
States railroad labor board an
nounced its decision on wage in
creases will be reached on or before
July 20. The brotherhood leaders
who obtained the announcement after
a hearing yesterday, said they thought
the men would remain on the job now
Meantime ''vacationists among the
switchmen said they will remain ou
until wages are adjusted. The Chi
cago Yardmen's association voted
down a resolution to notify the roadi
they are ready to return.
Want Expelled Men Back.
w. G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood af Railway Trainmen, today be
gan work in an effort to bring bacl
into the brotherhood ranks the 1900
workers expelled for taking part il
unauthorized strikes during the pas
year.
. with the promise of a wage seal
. decision before July 20, retroactive t
: May 1, there is no reason for furthe
. dissension in our ranks said Lee
Already we have taken back 90
of the $4,000 men who were expelled
and we will take back others VIII
:. make proper amends.
Lee remained in Chicago while othe
heads of the Big Four brotherhood
returned to their homes. He was il
wire communication with leaders o
his organization all over the countr
and declared efforts to take out train
man and yardmen on strike at mid
night would prove futile, as resul
: of the promise of an early wage deci
sion by the federal railroad board.
is reported that the board, which ha
2 been in executive session here thre
weeks has agreed on a tentative aver
t age wage increase for the yariou
2 crafts of % per cent. Members Of tn
t board refused to corroborate this re
+. port
L $50 Take vacations"
Erie, Pa. June 26.-About rs
switchmen and yardmen went o
:. vacation" here this morning unit
. the labor board hands down its wag
scale decision" Three roads wer
: affected.
Go Over to the Outlaws
New Haven, Conn, June 18th
ma ajority of the workers in the railroa
yards here have Joined the OUTLAW
e strike it was stated today by railroa
officials More than 100 men are ou