Evening star., 1921-10-23
.'Telegraphers Give
! Lone Support to
WalkOut.
385,OOO OTHERS
'TAKEVOTE TODAY
$4,000 Clerks Ex-
pected to Oppose Tie
=; up of Lines Now.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 22.-Omcials OF
unions with more than half of the
rail employees of the nation in their
membership tonight announced that
their men will not be authorized to
5oin the "big five" organizations in
the strike called for october 30 In
protest of wage cuts.
Announcements that they would
not join in a walkout came from
eight of the eleven "standard' rail
unions, which for week had been
Withholding their final strike decisions,
although in most OF them the members
had voted overwhelmingly to quit
work rather than accept recent II
per cent wage reduction authorized
by the United States Railroad Labor
Board. Only one of these eleven
groups now is determined to stand
by the big five." it was announced,
but two others have not yet taken
final action.
Clerks Oppose WalkOut.
Officials of the clerks said tonight
that they probably would not author
ize a strike at their meeting, sched-
uied tomorrow, thus indicating, union
leaders said, that strike, If 1t ma
ferialized, would affect less than one
fourth of the country's railroad en-
ployes. being conhded to the switch
men, the conductors. the firemen, the
engineers. the trainmen and the telee-
raphers. The organizations which
decided not to join an immediate
walkout will take new strike votes
after an expected Labor Board de-
cision in regard to rules and work
ing conditions. it was said
Following announcement by heads
cr the six shop crafts organizations
controlling 10000 men. that they
would not sanction a walkout. the
leaders of the s75.ooo maintenance
of-way employees and Of the 25.ooo
stationary hremen at an executive
meeting voted to withdraw their au-
thorfzation of walkout. leaving only
the $4,000 railroad telegraphers posi-
lively with the big I've" Chieftains
Of the $4,000 clerks will make their
decision tanrorrow and the signal
men, 1000 strong, also are yet to act.
First Strike Begins.
The first strike began at noon on
the International and Great Northern.
Texas line, where 600 trainmen
started walkout. which, union lead
crs declared, would be 100 per cent
effective among members of their or
SANITATION. although officials Of the
road insisted only freight service
would be impaired.
Turbulent Scenes Enacted.
The shop crafts decision, which
was said to be instrumental in bring
ing about the action of the two other
groups, was reached after turbulent
sessions of the conference committee
of 100, lasting several days. Repre-
sentatives from distant sections. fired
tested against further delay in call
ing a strike, which was authorized
by a vote last July. That vote was
taken, however, only on the wage re-
duction of July /. and leaders OF
the shop unions did not deem it ad-
visable to walk out on that issue
alone.
BY last night the missionary work
done by Mr.. Jewell and others since
tho brotherhood's strike call had
shown its effect and the committee
Of 100 had been brought into line with
- no-strike policy.
New Resolution Presenetd.
A special committee was appointed
to draft a new report. This COM
mittee worked late into the night
and today presented a new resolu-
tion. Heated debate ensued, but aft
ar more than three hours of argu-
ment the resolution to stay on the
Job for the present went through.
More than 500 general chairmen
reaching here today to hear the COM
mittee's decision. left for their homes
tonight to explain the committee's
action to their membership.
1--WE are not in any position to &c
on strike at this time," B. NJ. Jewell
head Of the shop crafts. declared al
a meeting of the chairmen this aft
ernoon. ITO strike on the proposi.
tion of a wage reduction alone. with
our shop rules on the altar Of sac.
rifice, would be suicide.
Don't be tricked into following
along in a strike which you cannot
settle in a manner favorable to your.
selves Move cautiously and wait
until the whole question Of wages and
working conditions is before you"
Separate Rules Of Agreement.
Mr.. Jewell pointed out that the
strike authorized by the brotherhoods
was predicated on the fact that the
train service men han separate rules
Of agreement with each railroad In
the country. The shop crafts have
no such agreements.
The real heart Of this strike is the
contest over rules" Mr.. Jewell said
THE brotherhoods' strike was techni.
cplly called on the July wage cut. but
in their settlement with the railroads
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