The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-11-05
ALL HAPPY when
RAILROAD STRIKE
WAS CALLED OFF
BrotherhoodS Yielded to Pres
sure Brought 10 Bear by Rail-
road Labor Board.

4he country brLathed a deep sigh
of relief when it was learned that the
railroad strike had been called off,
The brotherhood CHIEFS did the only
thing that could be Zone. The cards
we're stacked against them. The press
attended to public opinion and the
administration carried the club
But that was not all, the shop
crafts were not ready for a Walkout.
Their grievances against the railroads
had not been brought to head, and
they felt they would not be Justified
in striking until they knew just where
they were going to land. On top Of
that the brotherhood, did not give
them the necessary assurance that It
they walked out together they would
all go back together and none singly.
The railroads we're really trapped
before the strike was called off. They
wanted a strike. Their publicity
agents were busy informing the public
that the strike would not be against
the railroads but against the railroad
labor board and the government
Word was sent out to all the CONNER
cial clubs to adopt resolutions de-
nanding that labor obey the rulings
of the labor board. The Duluth Com
mercial club called on labor and the
railroads to adhere to the decisions
of the board
Assurance Is Given.
When the railroad labor board
stepped into the breach its members
assured the brotherhoods that there
could not possibly be any further
changes in wages until next July and
they asked that the status quo be
maintained until they could consider
the question. After two days of par
eying the unions called the strike off,
That is what the railroads did not
want to have done. It was upsetting
the plans of the anti-unionists from
their headquarters in the House OF
Morgan. They were forced into an
awkward position and they have since
abandoned their howls for obedience
to government orders. They cannot
now bring about an additional cut in
wages at their own sweet will.
L. E. Sheppard, president Of the
Order of Railroad Conductors, stated
the case Of the men and gave rea-
sons for calling off the strike.
I'VE were influenced in our ~deci-
sion,' he said, because Of the grow
ing public opinion that the strike
would be against the labor board and
consequently the government, and
not against the railroads.
Propaganda Does Its Work.
1T was evident also that the entire
Washington administration was op-
posed to US and that we have had lit
tie chance Of gaining our objective.
We called the strike to gain certain
rights to which our men were entitled.
1t soon became apparent, however,
that the roads were succeeding in
their misleading propaganda to the
effect that we really would be strik-
ing against the government.
THE railroad propaganda found it's
way to the United States Railroad La
Dor Board. The governmental agency
told us that it would look on a strike
as against it and the government and
not against the roads, and that the
full force of the government would be
brought to bear against us if we
walked out. Under the circumstances
there was nothing to do but annul
orders for the October 80 walkout."
There were several factors which
contributed to bring about a peaceful!
settlement of the controversy" con-
tinued Mr.. Sheppard, NOTABLY the
promise of the representative of the
arrangements, T. Dewitt Cuyler,
chairman of the Associa ton Of Rail-
road Executives of the United States.
States.
Relying on Cnyler's Promise.
Mr.. Cuyler before the United
States Railroad Labor Board .guaran-
teed in in effect that there would be
no arbitrary cancellation Of sched-
ules or working conditions or further
requests for wage reductions except
in negotiation with representatives of
the men on the respective lines or by
collective effort should the :s,me be
agreed upon and that if failure to
agree in negotiations resulted the
question would be referred to the La
Dor Board for action in accordance
with the boards announced pro-