Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-10-09
GENERAL Rail
WALKOUT now
NOT PROBABLE
President Lee Believes Labor
Leaders Realize Situa-
tion

LIE ELAND, o., OCT. S-Pre-
diction that there will be no general
strike on the part Of the railroad
transportation brotherhood was made
today by VIM. @. Lee. president of
the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men. Lee based his prediction on be.
lief that ''the average labor leader
j. not insane to the extent of not
recognizing conditions as they now
exist"
Asked whether he admitted the
possibility of strike on any one
railroad. he replied that II was pos
sible but he did not admit It's pro
liability.
Mr.. Lee returned yesterday from
Chicago, having supervised the can
vass Of the strike vote Of more than
10000 members Of his organization
taken in protest against the II per
cont wage reduction ordered BY the
United States Railroad Labor Board
effective July |.
Mr.. Lee declined TO be a party 70
The joint strike ballot Of the other
hrotherhoods sent out early in Sen
tember. claiming nothing could le
rally be included in such a ballot ac-
cording to the Esck Cummins law.
except the wage reduction of last
July since the labor board had not
made decision on other subjects
mentioned in the joint ballot. Lee
prepared and submitted a separate
ballot for the train and yard men.
The vote returned. he said, was In ex-
vess of 81 per cent in favor Of a
strike. with the following provision: !:
'.We further request that our
membership on his road be authorized
to withdraw from service on the same
day and hour that the membership Of
either the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers, 0r4er Of Railway
Conductors, or Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemen Of
this road II authorized to stop work
as a result of the vote taken by such
organization in connection with the
wage reduction Of July L."
"The next move is up to the other
organization" Lee declared. He
made public in part a letter OF Oct.
3. addressed To Grand Chief War
rem s. Stone Of the engineers; Presi-
dent w. s. Carter Of the firemen and
President L. r. Sheppard Of the
conductors, a. follows:
"This communication is to notify
you officially of the action Of the
Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen in
regard to the vote submitted to them
relative to a reduction of paw.
"The vote Of our membership on
all roads affected by such reduction
and reports filed with me show in ex
cess Of SO per cent of the entire
membership on all roads voting in
favor Of withdrawing from the serv-
ice of their employer rather than
continuing longer under the redur
ed rates OF pay established by deci
sion number 147 and addenda there
to Of the United States Labor Board.
~ am pledged TO grant the autho-
rity 70 requested and permit our
membership to leave the service Of
anv or all Of the roads requesting
authority 10 do 20 whenever am
officially advised by either IF you
that an authorized stoppage Of work
os the membership ~ your organiza-
tion has been authorized on any one
or more Of the roads in question.
"'fhe hrotherhoodS chairmen have
returned home and await further
advice. which. Of course. | shall give
them uDcE receipt II the action taken
by our organizations. Such chair
mon will not be rcconvcncd unless
there is .cen-lor For doing so and
| am. therefore. ready to cooper
ate with one or VI AZ YOU to the full
est extent when called upon officially
bv vcu to sct.'
Mr.. Zee said ~ viii return To Chi
cago Tuesday next IN order to be PR
sent when the ballots of other orga
nizations have All been counted and
70 ~ on hand for any action taken
~ them.