The New York herald., 1921-10-16

of Way Employees ana Railway ShoI
Laborers.
Order OF Railroad Telegraphers.
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Of
America.
international Brotherhood of EIec-
trieal Workers.
International Brotherhood of Boiler.
makers, Iron shipbuilders and Helpers
of America.
International Brotherhood Of Black
smiths, Dropforgers and Helpers.
Five hundred general chairmen OF the
Big Four brotherhoods and the Switch
mems Union OF North America were on
their way home tonight from week
conference In Chicago. with the signed
exthcriss lions for strike In their pock-
cts.
No further orders will be necessary.
the brotherhood chiefs said, TO call @'u
rail workers on every big line in the
country. Grand officers of the brother
hoods left for Cleveland tonight.
Printed instructions were handed 10
every general chairman to govern the
mems conduct. These authorized pro-
gressive walkout, the first at . A. M,
October 80, to be followed by the other
three secret groups, each twenty-four
hours. October 81 and November l
and 2.
Secret Code Word in Packet.
Every chairman carried In sealed
racket a code word for use II the strike
is called off, In event OF receiving the
code word from headquarters each CHAIR
-d III is to open his packet to idenufy
tire word.
No reservations are made in the
strike authorizations. Skeleton service,
outlined in the bylaws of the unions
IS TO be maintained, but otherwise every
man Is expected TO walk out Their IN
structions declare the men have 'identi-
caIly the same right to refuse to perform
service on a mail train as you nave 10
perform service on a freight train"
Arriving at their respective headquar-
ters general chairnen OF the brother
hoods and switchmen immediately VIII
issue system orders over the general
chairmen's signatures, carrying the hour
and date of the strike. These orders
will go to local chairmen, who Will pass
them to the rank and file.
Although complete plans for the walk
out of the other eleven Of the sixteen
standard railroad organizations were In
complete tonight, II was said the gen
eral procedure would be much ike that
of the brotherhoods.
Warren s. Stone, grand chief OF the
engineers, declined to comment on the
conferences of this week. He SAID an
announcement might be made from the
Cleveland once later.
"we're all through" Mr.. Stone said
IT can't tell you anything now, but the
die is cast"
l.. E. Sheppard, president of the con-
ductors, said he could say nothing. re-
iterating his announcement OF several
days ago that no oficial statement would
be given out here.
T. C. Cashen, head of the switchnen.
and w. c. Carter, president Of the f1re-
men, declined to make any comment.
Notices to be posted by railroads next
week announcing another 10 per cent.
cut in wages, effective in thirty days,
will not mean an immediate reduction on
that date, 1t was authoritatively stated
in railroad circles to-day. The railroads
do not intend to violate the transporta-
tion act clauses providing for appeal to
the United States Railroad Labor Board,
il was Indicated, because to do SO proba-
bly, would ALLEVIATE public opinion. The
plan to be followed, as provided by the
law, is:
g'he railroads will post their notices
announcing the cut In thirty days, ana
tlEH invite IDe union COflfuittcCo ~ COsA-
ference to discuss the cut. In the event
this union men refuse to accept 1t, the
aisplte will then be referred to the labor
ooa,d for adjustment. the cut being auto
;ratically suspended until either approved
% denied by the board. Decision by
ere board may take anywhere from one
six months. or even longer, depend
suy upon the amount of evidence taken
I'd the condition of the boards docket.
Second Wage Cut Far on.
The board now has several hundred
minor cases and the very important
les and working conditions dispute
VI nding. In event the wage cut case
"a kes its regular place on the docket
might not be reached before the first
of the year, and. as the unions prob
ly would present masses Of evidence
b. opposition. the hearing probably
. ,uld consume several months.
The proposed ten per cent. cut would
pace wages to practically the same
ieyel as prevailed prior to July 90.
30. For the principal classes OF la
these adjustments were: