The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-20
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unions are ignored by the board. No
reference is made to the strikers or
their/demands. The board had re-
fused to hear representatives of the
new unions, holding, with the old
brotherheods, that the men were al
ready represented by the officials OF
the recognized unions. The strikers
demanded that the board order return
of their full seniority rights which the
railroads had declared forfeited. This
demand also is ignored.
In addition to the sixteen recognized
brotherhoods. two other unions, the
Association of Railway
Supervisors of Mechanics and the
American Train Dispatchers' associa-
ton are made a party to the decision.
More than 400 railroads are speeiffcal-
Iy named as parties
Board VIII Interpret.
The decision provides that in case
of a dispute as to the Interpretation of
the decision the question shall be re-
ferred to the board for decision. The
law does not require, however, that
either side must accept the award. I
The decision provides that the daily
increase shall be computed as eight
times the hourly rate andtthe monthly
increase shall be computed as 204
times the hourly schedule
Affects 100000 Workers.
The decisions affect wages OF 2.O0e, =
600 railroad laborers.
Chiefs of railroad labor unions were
here today ready to take immediate
action on the awards. Following an
nouncement by the board, the three
groups arranged at conferences of Ia
Dor leaders yesterday will go into sep
arate conferences. Later they will
meet i'll joint convention to determine
labor's attitude toward the boards de-
cision. A general railroad strike de-
ponds upon this decision. Early init
nations were that the reported award
would be found wanting.
Pending Over Year.
Demands of railroad employees for
Increased wages have been pending
since July 3, 1919. Shop craft work
ers asked for a general increase then
and were followed by demands from
other branches. The requests of Wal
ker D. Hines, former director general
IF the railroad administration, contin-
ued until August, 1919, when fully SO
per cent of the railroad employees OF
the country had presented their de-
rnands workers leaders then were
persuaded to hold their demands in
allowance to give the government an
opportunity to lower the cost az Nv
ing.
The demands were withheld at the
personal request of President Wilson
who appealed to the patriotism OF the
workers not to strike.
Early this year. with living costs still
mounting, railroad workers became
restless and renewed strike threats a
delegation waited on the president in
February and app ointment Of the rail-
road board to probe workers demands
and fix an award resulted.
Board Named March IS.
This stayed the restlessness OF the
workers until April when thousandc
of RAILROAD workers thruout the coun-
trv Walked out in defiance of lead
ers of organized railroad labor. This
OUTLAW strike resulted in the speed
ing up of the appointment of the
board, and shortly thereafter it began
to hold public hearings.
The board was appointed on March
16 with the following membership:
r. NJ Barton. chairman; Horace
Baker, J. H Elliott, James ]. For
roster, G. w. W. Hangar. Henry T.
Hunt, w. L. Park, Albert Phillips and
A. o. Wharton.
The board began hearings April IS,
1920 The first hearings were held at
Washington, where the man presented
their demands. Later. the board came
to Chicago, where the side of the rail-
roads was presented.
In rebuttal evidence the workers
leaders stated that a living wage was
s2,50O a year.
The hearings closed May %.
ARE VnET WEARKP