Evening journal., 1921-10-15
RAIL WAGES,
RATES ARE
CONSIDERED
BY HARDING
continued from First Page.


100000 rail workers went into ses.
sion here today to-reach a final de.
cision on what action to take.
Rebuffed In their efforts to nego-
tiate with railroad executives over
question OF wages and hours. the
railworkers must strike or recede
from their position.
What is there left to do but
strike w. C. Lee, president of the
Brotherhood of Trainmen said to-
day in reply to a question. IF I
were a betting man would bet
there would be a strike"
Il do not see how the roads have
the nerve to suggest another wage
cut when they know we have voted
to strike because OF the last one"
Lee said. "The-tim for talking is
past"
The strike committee OF the unions
was in session, mapping out plans
for the walkout. Adding further
to the strike temper OF the unions,
information from high railroad exc
cutives today was that the 10 per
cent. cut for unskilled workers agreed
upon at the employers meeting,
would be placed in effect as soon as
the payrolls can be changed. with
out waiting for action by the United
States Railroad Labor Board.
Some railroads high executives
said, would be cutting wages by No
vember 1. This could be done with
out violating the transportation act,
the executives contended A dis
pute must have arisen between the
workers and the employers before
a case can be brought before the
/ board. The roads they declared
could arbitrarily cut wages.
The men would appeal to the
board for relief and the hearing
would be called.
The whole procedure, according
to one official, was mapped out in
Washington last week.
These events occurred in the last
twenty-four hours.
Railroad executives met. They
carried out their schedule OF de-
Gliding TO cut wages and OF later
asking the Interstate Commerce
Commission to slash freight rates af-
ter wages were trimmed.
Brotherhood chiefs asked for a
conference. This was granted.
Executives merely told the brother
hood chiefs what action had been
taken.
The union leaders walked out.
This procedure was in spite OF
the fact that the Brotherhoods we're
armed with their strike vote. The
strike vote was taken on the wage
cut Of last July. Now they faced
a more aggravated issue.
Having decided to call a strike
October 80 this is what the brother
hoods faced today:
They realized. according to best
information that a strike would not
be popular. Farmers and business
men are promised decreased freight
rates when wages are trimmed.
High freight rates have been blam-
ed by both and also representative
public men as a cause OF business
stagnation.
II would be possible To recruit
from the legions OF unemployed men
to take the place Of strikers.
Two million men would become
jobless with winter coming on.
transportation would be crippled
and food supplies cut of which
would initiate against sympathy
from the public.
II a strike were called II would be
a case OF opposing the government.
IL mas been declared at the unem-
ployment conference at Washington
that the administration believes that
one Of the first steps toward nor
malcy should be reduction Of rail-
road wages and freight rates.
Railroad executives who met here
declared the administration was back
OF their move TO cut wages and then
reduce freight rates.
The strike date was set for October
30, provided executives refused to
enter into further negotiations in
which the unions hoped to obtain
pledges against additional wage cuts.
The committee OF union leaders
who conferred with the executives
were to report back to the general
lchairmen the unsatisfactory results
OF their conference at the meeting
p today.
Following the report the strike
plans were to be submitted to the
htMNNdA AAdANAANlls 4 AtNt plans ln=
clude calling out the trainmen Of the
Southern Pacific on October 30. the
first step in the strike.
A general strike will not be called
but various men on different roads
b called out gradually.
, Following the Southern Pacific
: walkout by about two days, accord
ing to the plans the train service
, union will be called out; at two-das
intervals on Chicago and Northwest
, ern, the Chicago, Burlington and
! Quincy. the Illinois Central, the Bal.
. ltimore and Ohio. Seaboard lines tn,
New York. New Haven and Hartford
p and the Boston and Maine. This
would be followed by a strike OF tn,
I Pennsylvania shop men.
8 BY calling a strike in this manner
, the union hoped TO swing public
r sentiment in their favor by not tyinl
q lup milk and food trains in any par
lticular section but at the same tim'
4 let the railroads in every part OF th'
!. lcountry feel the force OF the strike
'sThe final test is merely the risini
land setting OF few suns" Presiden
Lee said in a final word. IT shal
send my instructions to union chair
men from Cleveland on Sunday"
II HILLCREST SUPPER.