The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-19
R. R. union CHIEFS
READY FOR ACTION
Heads of BrOtherhOOdS Await
Rail Wage Award.
Act Immediately After Boards
Decision Is Announced.
GENERAL STRIKE EXPECTED
GENERAL STRIKE EXPECTED
Final Decision To Be Made by
General Union Vote.
Are 100000 Men Affected by
Expected Decision.

Chicag July Representatives
Of railway workers, here TO receive the
wage awards tomorrow of the rail la
Dor board. divided themselves into
three groups today There were 700
general chairmen in the first group
tthe Transportation Workers unions.
In the second group were the leaders
of shop craft unions and in the third
the operative workers chieftains.
The meetings today were closely
guarded. but dribbling outside were re-
ports that the men merely were get
ting set" for discussion of the awards
tomorrow. 1t was expected a general
session will be held late today and
possibly q general meeting tomorrow
when the decision of the labor board
will be inspected, paragraph by para
graph
Consider Situation Grave.
But union heads have no power to
accept or reject the awards but it was
believed their action will be in the ma
ture of a recommendation to the
ranks.
There was gravity everywhere. The /
big chiefs of the labor unions hesitated
to talk because, they said, strike talk
now would merely aggravate the trOu-
BILE. They pointed out they have no
Verification of rumors than increases
will average 20 per cent. as reported.
Its members continued in the belief
that its proposals are adequate.
The fact that the increase is retro
active to May l was relied on to mol
lify objectors.
viii Affect 1000. 900 Workers.
Railroad union leaders are making
final preparations for a speedy deci-
sion on the acceptabiiity OF the
award. The award will affect de-
mands of 100000 railroad workers
for increases totaling S1,OOO,0OO,0OO
annually
The grand council will act on the
various sections of the award, imme-
diateIy after the boards announce
ment. Its action will determine
whether. d general authorized railroad
strike viii be called
New Strike Threatened.
IF the awards are not sufficient to
assure US decent living. We VIII take
concerted action" 5. F. Heberling.
president of the Switchmen's Union of
North America, said today
Rail leaders here for the council
meeting feared today a general un-
authorized strike might result unless
the union chiefs act quickly. ". q.
Lee. president of the Brotherhood Of
Railway TrainuaeB. and others have
admitted their inability to control the
rank and file in case an unauthorized
strike becomes effective.
The meeting today will be the first
session of the grand council in more
than "A year One thousand union
leaders were expected to attend.
Men in Bad Temper
If reports reaching railroad brother
hood leaders regarding the wage
award to be handed down tomorrow
by the railway labor board are correct
the decision will be unacceptable and
will be rejected. union leaders declared
today.
o. +t,~,,e,.r,-7 --o,,.,-.r ,t,. ;,-,,,,,, -
the sixteen recognized unions are
meeting behind closed doors TO dis
cuss their future course. While none
will predict publicly that a general
strike is possibility if the award is.
unsatiSfa ctOry. they assert privately
that trustworthy information reaching
them is that the award is so low it
will not be accepted
Some leaders say the temper of the
men is such that they doubt whether
an immediate walkout. unauthorized
and uncaIled, could be averted if the
men are not satisfied by the boards
decision. The call for todav's session.
which will be continued for several
days, provides that the general chair
men can if they wish, pass on the
award without submitting it to a vote
Award Not Obligatory.
This conference l looked upon as
one of the most vital conclaves of the
associated railway chief" said l. NJ
Heberlln OF the switchmen. You
know We are not bound to accent the
awards of the labor board The Esch-
Cummins bill does not make the
award compulsory and neither the
workers nor the roads are forced to
accept the rulings.
Il should not like to see a general
strike called. 1t would tie up the
country in "a hours and in 4S hours
industries would be forced to close.
The switehmen have asked for a so
per cent increase. A 20 per cent com
promise would hardly be accepta bic.
Scrubwomen employed in the Chicago
yards are drawing more money than
the switchmen who risk their lives in
their work"
While the leaders Of the recognized
unions are in one conference one hun
dred chairmen of locals of the new
yardmen's and switchmen's assocIa-
tfons. which called the strikes in April
gathered to await the award John
Grunau, president of the Chicago
Yardmen's association, parent body of
all the new unions, said his men would
pass on the award independently Of
the recognized brotherhoods. The new
unions demand restoration to their
former seniority rights before return
ing to work. The labor board refused
TO hear their demands and it is under
stood there will be nothing in the
award to be handed down tomorrow
TO cover the case of the strikers.