The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-22
UNION CHIEFS j
WOULD MAKE IT
: UNANIMOUS NOW
BrotherhOodS VIII Fight Any
Unauthorized Strikes.
Telegraphers Only Ones to
FIatIy Refuse Scale.
CHIEFS IN ALL-NIGHT SESSION
Efforts for General Compromise
Made This Morning.
Board Starts Hearings on Exc
press Employees Case.
Efforts for General Compromise
Made This Morning.

Chicago. July 22.-Conservative rail.
road union leaders today worked to se-
cure unanimous agreement of all
unions to order a referendum vote on
the acceptability of the awards an
nounced Tuesday by United State la
Dor wage board. as a compromise ON
the radical demand for flat rejection
of. the $60O.00O,00O increase. Indi-
cations were that the referendum
would be ordered
Following the group meetings, the
men were to reconvene in sixteen sep
arate meetings during the afternoon to
thresh cut the referendum proposal.
Later an executive session of the six
teen big leaders was expected to reach
It's decision. The railroad labor board
went into session to consider demands
of expressmen.
Chiefs Refuse Comment.
Union officials refused to comment
on the reports that they were divided,
seven favoring acceptance, seven a
referendum with recommendation of
acceptance, two a referendum without
recommendation and flat rejestion OF
the award and one undecided. Pri-
vately they said referendum seemed
the only possible course.
If a vote by all union members is
| ordered the award will be tentatively
accepted SO that the men will get the
increased pay for this month and the
PACK pay from May l, as provided by
the retroactive feature of the railway
labor boards decision. A referendum
VIII take at least thirty days.
Seven Have Accepted.
Seven railroad unions today were
| reported to have definitely accepted
the wage award announced Tuesday
by the United States railroad labor
wage board.
I he nrda aN d
positively refused to consider the
award, according to information to-
day. and an order for a strike vote
was said to have been issued.
The Order of Railway Conductors
early today had not determined its
attitude. A referendum was said to
have been ordered by other railroad
crafts.
Trainmen. engineers. switchmen,
shopmen, locomotive firemen and en-
/ ginemen and mates and pilots were
the organizations said to have defi-
| nitely accepted the award.
In Session All Night.
| Railroad labor executives were in
an all night conference attempting to
reach common ground on the ac-
| ceptability of the award. The confer
ences were to be continued today. In
timations early today were that all
unions would be asked to take a ref
erendum. making whatever recon-
mendations desired.
The conference of executives foi-
/ lowed refusal of the labor board to
/ reopen hearings on certain points.
Five labor leaders appeared before
the board and presented the situation
they feed in deciding the acceptable
ity Of the award. The board declared
that to reopen hearings would mean
| the entire dispute would need to be re-
considered and they declared the
award made was the best possible.
Says Thcre'H Be No Strikes.
Rail union chiefs today were confi-
dent sporadic strikes would not re-
. suit from the boards announcement.
: An unauthorized strike of employees OF
| the Grand Trunk here last night was
considered the result of local condi-
tions and not reflecting the attitude
| of railroad labor.
Efforts to compromise the attitudes
of the various brotherhoods was un-
der way this morning and hope for
report by the union chieA to the one
thousand general chairmen was enter
| tanned.
Union chiefs were inclined to be-
little reported efforts Of members Of
the Chicago yardmen's association,
1s0 of whom struck in Chicago yester-
day TO bring about a general waikout,
and declared that sporadic strikes
would be fought to the last ditch By
the International unions
Start Express Hearings.
The railway labor board which yes
terday declined to reopen the railway
wage cases at the request of the
brotherhoods today began hearing on
the application for increased pay Of
seventy thousand employees Of the
American Railway Express company
who were not included in the railway
mems award.
The board declared that reopening
the investigation would delay the back
pay award which they believe the
workers should receive in their August
"A 1 pay envelopes The award vas made
sretro0tive to May 1 and the back
pay = estimated to average about 1900
apiece for the workers benefited BY
the increases.
I