Imperial Valley press., 1921-10-26
BOARD
| n | I'll ATES
D |C|A[
INQUIRY Y
Will Determine Whether or
Not Threatening Strikers
Attitude is Violation Of
Labor Board Ruling

CHICAGO, Oct. 26-The United
States Labor Board today ini-
tiated Official government inquiry"
into the national rail crisis to deter
mine formally whether the threatened
walkout of four hundred thousand
train service men constitutes viola
ton of the boards decision or of the
terms in the Transportation Act
The chiefs of conductors, engineers,
trainmen, switchmen and firemen. to-
gether with the five general chairmen
of labor organizations of each rail-
road and the railroad executives of
all the principal railroads were pres
ent
W. G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of aRilroad Men, was called to
the stand and told the board he had
withdrawn from the joint meetings of
the other unions because their strike
resolution covered questions he did
not think were involved. He read a
letter sent his men while they were
voting on the strike. in which he
pointed out that wages must come
down and that four million unemplcy-
ed men were seeking jobs.
Lee declared the differences be-
tween himself and the other unions
arose when he insisted on clean cut
statement, pointing out there was no
possibility of reopening negotiations
with the roads, and using the strike
vote as club, because the Labor
Board and not the roads had ordered
the wage cut. At II o'clock the
board recessed until o'clock. Lee
had not completed his statements.
Judge Barton. chairman, predicted the
hearing would be completed by Thurs
day noon.
The Brotherhood chiefs served no.
tice on the board that they would
withdraw at any time they chose and
would leave subors:Sates in their
places after the board permitted sew
eral railroad presidents to answer
roll call for absent executives.
CLEVELAND, Oct. 26.-Warren S.
Stone, president Of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, in a. state
ment today asserted that the brother
hoods are fighting for their exist
ence and warned that if they were de-
stfoyed, radical labor organizations
were sure to spring up to take their
places within few years or perhaps
months"
Lee said that his general chairman
IN Chicago would issue the necessary
orders recalling the strike order, but
only when the roads made such settle
ment as the men demand. He read
the series of kilograms explainin.
that the trainmen on the Information
al and Great Northern Railroad i'm
Texas voted to quit work in advance.
thereby forfeiting the right of gener-
al strike benefits.
At the afternoon session, Warren
s. Stone, grand chief of engineers.
followed l.. E. Shepherd, head of con
doctors. Stone came into conflict
with Chairman Barton at the very
start when he attempted to read a
list of seven road1 which, he said, had
violated the orders of the board. Bar
ton ruled against the reading. Stone
protested, saying, II want read into
the records the tsatement that forty
railroads have violated this boards
orders, and have not been cited TO ap-
pear here. Why" Hundreds of mea
on the labor side of the hall eheered
and whistlcd. IF we cannot find re-
dress in this board, then / want to
know where $4,000 engineers can find
relief. If We are to be prohibited
from explaining the feelings of eur
men, then ! do not see that therc 10
anything for nee TO say" Stone con-
tinued.
"Let me assure you, however, this
overthrow is long way from an se-
complished fact" said Stone. Stose
said the railroads with characteristic