The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-03-04
RAIL UNION MEN
CLAIM RAW DEAL
Strike Decision Is Set for Meet
ing Next Thursday.
CHIEFS TO MEET IN CHICAGO
Head Of Maintenance of Way EN-
poyees Barker Says Men Want to
Go out-Demand 25 to SO Per
Cent Increase.

Chicago, March 1.-THE railway
strike issue will be decided finally at
a meeting of railway union heads in
Chicago next Thursday. Despite the
apparent poStpOnement of the pro-
posed strike two weeks ago at the re-
quest of President Wilson, the situa-
tion already has reached a new crisis.
President Allen h. Baker of the
United Brotherhood of Maintenance
OF Way Employees announced from
Detroit that general call had been
issued to the general chairmen and
executive officers of the brotherhood
TO meet on Thursday at the Atlantic
hotel here To take final action. The
railway shop labOrers also will be
represented at the meeting.
Says Men Want to Strike.
Mr. Baker declined to commit him
self as to the probability Of strike,
bur asserted there is overwhelming
evidence that the temper of the broth
erhood favors strike.
"Nu one officer of the brotherhood
has authority to say what action shall
be taken" he said but | am calling
together those who have the authority.
Regardless of what any other broth
erhood may do, the maintenance of
way men will decide the issue for
themselves"
Attaches of the Atlantic hotel said
that neither organization had made
reservations for the meeting nor had
intimated their desire to yet
Rail workers Angry.
Washington, March with the
railroads of the nation passed into the
hands OF private owners once more
and ready to demand a rate increase
OF from - TO 30 per cent, there imme-
diately Ioomed up the possibility of a
strike among the rail workers.
Leaders here said that the new rail
road alliance would prepare strike ma
chinery nj once to meet the first hos
tile move by the railroad companies.
The presidents reply TO the railway
men on their plea for higher wages
has brought about general dissatisfac-
tion among the men and leaders are
worried.
Shop Leader Says RAW Deal"
I'VE have had raw deal" said J.
Il. Malloy, vice president Of the Broth
erhood of Maintenance of Way En-
ployeeS and Shop Workers. I'VE have
had one from the government ever.
since 1913. The president asked us to
postpone our strike and we did so.
Now he comes back and does not even
mention us in his letter and gives
nothing whatever to the railroad work
erS.
eve have men who are working for
$2,25 a day, and the highest is paid
only $50 week, Since September l.
We have been waiting for relief and
now the president asks us TO wait still
longer, We are tired of waiting"
No Strike, Say Leaders.
Washington, March 2.-There will be
no nationwide railroad strike.
This positive announcement was
made by high officials of the railway
labo: unions representing the more
than 100000 employees who operate
the railroads, which passed into pri-
vate operation Monday morning.
Although these officials manifested
the greatest resentment over the pass
age of the Cummins-ESch bill and its
Endorsement by the president, they in
dicated that they will fall into line be-
hind Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, who
has taken whats the use" attitude.
The general view of labor on the
legislation returning the roads to their
private owners is that it is class legls-
latlon and that it plays into the hands
of the operators.