The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-15
ENGLISH GENERAL STRIKE CALLED OFF
LABOR LEADERS
AND RAIL HEADS
LIKE DECISION
Board Pleases Both
Sides by Abro-
CATION.

Chicago, April 15.-Both railroad
executives and labor leaders today
declared the decision Of the rail-
road labor board abrogating the
national agreements would mater
tally advance the effort to arrive
at an agreement satisfactory to all
parties. The board directed indi-
vidual roads and their employees to
confer and agree on new working
rules by July l. Labor representa-
tives said many of the Is basic
principles laid down in the boards
decision to govern the conference
on new working agreements, es-
pecially the eight-hour day and the
right Of the employees to organize
and select their own representa-
tivee, include principles they have
been fighting for. Railway execu-
tives said that the decision recog-
nized their contention that many of
the rules should not have national
application.
The decision affects members of
IS unions, including all those af-
filiated with the railway depart
ment Of the American Federation
Of Labor. In this group are the
big Four" the organization Of
engineers, firemen, trainmen and
conductors. In addition telegra-
piers, clerks, shop employees, main
tenance Of way employees, sheet
metal workers and those members
of the national organizations Of
Masters, Mates and Pilots of Amer
ica who are employed by railroads.
When ~gation of the national
agreement was proposed seven
months ago by w. w. Atterbury,
vice president Of the Pennsylvania
railroad, it was declared that the
national agreements were costing
the railroads $3O0,O0O,OO0 a year,
because certain economies in shop
conditions could not be put into eff
feet under the old rules.
Call Meet Today.
A meeting Of the conference COM
mittee of the Association of Rail-
way Executives, of which E. T..
Whittier is chairman. WAS called for
today to discuss the application OF
the decision to the individual roads
The executives side Of the argu-
ment in favor Of the abrogation OF
the old national agreements was
presented to the board through Mr.
Whittier.
The unions also held a confer
ence on. the finding this morning
their meeting being presided over
by B. NJ. Jewell. president Of the
railway employees department OF
the American Federation of Labor
1t was indicated that both OF
these meetings would result in
statements later in the day.
| The decision came Just before
the terms of three members Of the
board expired at midnight las,
night. These men, appointed fol
one year when the board was or.
ganized, are Henry Hunt, Cincin.
natl, one Of the representatives o1
the general public; W. L. Park, Chi
cago, a railway representative, and
J. ]. Forester, Washington, D. C.
one of the labor leaders. Theil
successors have not been appoint.
ed and their places will be vacan
because the act creating the boart
failed to specify that member:
should continue in Office until theil
successors qualified.
! Last nights decision had nothing
to do with the various wage con
ferences which have been instituted
by various railroads within the las
few weeks and some of which hav'
already resulted in disputes tha
nave reached the board. The rule.
finding will affect pay envelope.
only insofar as it results in modifi
cations Of reductions concernin.
what constitutes overtime, definin,
, just when a railroad man start
work, and similar subjects.