Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-20

Chicago. Oct. 19. tby the A. P.)-I Preparation for the various moves through which it is hoped the threat ened railroad strike will be averted were completed today and tomorrow Ithe peace efforts will be in full swing. Tonight heads of the union and of the l carriers were awaiting the conferences tomorrow between the big five" rail Hnion leaders and the railroad labor board. and the meetings of officials of eleven unions which have not yet joinN cd the conductors, engnemen, trainmen, Gremen and switchmen in a strike or der. Both sides were agreed that out of these conferences would come the final decision as 10 whether a general walkout of rail employees would mater ialize.
 In the conference with the labor board rested the possibility of the 'big five" being persuaded to cancel their order for a walkout, while in the meet ines of the eleven unions. which actual ly started today, was to be decided whether these organizations. holding the balance of man power through number ing three-fourths of the nearly 100000 rail workers in their membership, would join the ''big five" if they walked out october 90 as planned.
 The conference with the labor board, arranged at it's request, was looked on as the most important of the peace movements railroad men tonight pro- fessed to see signs of a peaceful sett'e- rncnt of the difficulties in the attitude of B. M. Jewell, head of the 476,000 members of the six railway shop craft organizations, and of J. c. Shock, vice president of the maintenance of way union which numbers 300,00 men.
 The shop crafts executive council met today but took no action other than to call in the conference committee of 100. The committee, while having power to call strike. also is expected to defer action by calling in the 1000 general chairmen for a meeting Friday when the final attitude of these groups prob ab'y will he made known.
 The maintenance of way executive council met only informally today, the formal meeting coming tomorrow when all of the members are expected to be present.
 q cannot speak for my entire organ ization now but personally I will say that we do not want a strike, that we would never strike on the wage ques- ton unless forced to, and that we will rot go into any wallkout with the broth erhoods un ess we have definite prom lses of cooperation which so far have
 
 aIr. Shock tonight.
 Mir Jewell repeated his statement. that he was opposed to the strike.
 The labor board will go into confer ence with assurance of full support from every interested governmental depart ments, It's members said tonight fol- lowing an executive session at which they went over the case. One membe, lntimated that he believed the board had found a legal method of enforcini It's ruling. Heretofore the board ha! maintained that 1t had no power to car " ont its d.,isions and unions and rail roads each have charged the other witt violating the boards rulings.
 The board had no announcement | make tonight as to its procedure <mor TOW. It was understood, however, tha q plan similar to that proposed by tn public group in Washingt gton-calling flo acceptance of the last wage cut an cancellation of the strike order by tn men with the roads immediately reduc ing freight rates and temporarily post goning further wage cuts-would bt the basis of discussion.
 Board members admitted that the, realize the board really is fighting fo It's life and that much of its future de nsnds on It's ability to handle the pre-:
 
 Tn connection with the possibility ( this conference averting strike, 1t wa pointed out, however, that many raj roads have announced positively ths the public group proposal is impossibl in their opinion while Few labor leat CTS have expressed approval of 1t.
 Tn this connection. Samuel o. Dunl editor of Railway Age. issued a stat rnenc tonight followins ( conferenG with local raj. heads denouncing tn plan as Involving a complete surrel der by the roads to the labor unions
 The statement said that the "labC leaders opposition to the plan was bluff ss it was exactly what the uniol want"
 Possibility of immediate steps { bring about labor board hearing the proposed 10 per cent. wage c which the roads recently announced thu would seek was reported in rail circi but locally no action yet has been talk to this end Informal meetings of pre- idents of railroads entering Chicago a being held almost daily, however, al 1t was said that definite announcemen would be made shortly.
 Presidents of railroads centeriI here have not yet advertised for men man the trains in case of a strike has been done in New York but this a ton also will be taken within fe days, 1t was said
 At the informal meeting numero plans of combating tho strike ha been discussed but It was said that complete final method had yet bee adopted Recall of all men on pensic appeals to the public to help run t trains, ultimatums to the unions tn men who do not return to work witt specified time after the walkout " be virtually b'acl1isted and distributi of circulars among the men pointi out that they lose their seniority rigf are some of the steps contemplated, r