The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-20
Big FIVE CHIEFS.
PREP AIRED CONFER
With wage BOARD
The Union Heads, Before
Entering Conference,
Believe Walk-Out
improbable.
RAIL EXECUTIVES
TO MEET EXIGENCY
Presidents of the Eastern
Roads Not Depending on
Board to Avert Strike.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.--Plans for
the movement of essential commodities
In the case OF railroad strike have
been completed by the commerce de-
partmcni. Secretary Hoover annOunc.
cd today.
CHICAGO. Oct. 20.--Chlels of the
big four brothornoods and the switch
mems union arrived this morning and
went into conference preparatory TO
their meeting this afternoon with the
United States railroad labor board
Union Headquarters were optimistic
and there was q strongly evident feel.
ing that there will be no strike. un-
less something unexpected occurs to
disrupt the conference this afternoon.
Present at the union conference
were Warren S. Stone, grand chief OF
the brotherhood of the locomotive
engineers, l.. Il. Sheppard, president of
the order OF railway conductors: w.
G.. Lee. president of the brotherhood
of railroad trainmen; W. $. Carter,
president of the brotherhood OF loco
I iIlOtlNt anu 'HSihNiiiNii' aiii
T. C. Cashen, president of the switch
mems union of North America.
The II so.called standard" unions
marked time today awaiting the
outcome Of the labor board meeting
While few of their general chairmer
met to discuss strike plans. the ma
jority crowded the hearing rooms ol
! Iah rl - tho papnsy1
vania railroad cited for failure to obey
the boards orders.
To Hold Secret Conference
Leaders of the big five brotherhoods
meet today with the railroad labor
board in secret informal conference
10 air their grievances which led TO the
strike called for October so. whil'
chaiincn nf most OF the eleven oihel
principal railroad unions wrrc de
Gliding whether they also would cal
n walkout TO complete the proposed
transportation tie-up.
Labor Board Optimistic
Labor board members We're optimis!
ic over reports Of adjustmept of thu
brotherhood members complaints. bu
no plans had been announced for dis
cussing with railroad executives th'
boards program Of avcrting the STRIKE
by temporarily maintaining the presen
wage level and reducing freight rates
Prior To the conference with tn
brolherhoods the board had scheduled
a hearing with Pennsylvania railroa'
representatives on charges of violation
of board decision requiring a new
election of shop crafts Representatives
This case Is the first Of its kind Il
come before the board and is expect
ed 10 establish the extent Of tn
boards power In enforcing its decision
under the transportation and Esch
Cummins acts.
Plans to operate passenger. nal
and milk trains were being pushed b.
railroad executives In event the strik
takes place with resumption Of freigh
traffic as fast as men can be secured
From the ranks of men recently lai
off, pensioners, loyal veterans an
others with railroad experience. raj
road officials here today declarc'
they would recruit nearly half mi
lion men. Roads entering New Yori
were advertising for men - till pr
sitions which may he vacated an
roads entering Chicago are cXpccte
TO take the same course within IN
next fcw days.
Between August. 1920. and june
1921. the number Of railroad employe
decreased by Gll.6Sl, according 10 fil
urcs of the Interstate commerce com
mission. More than half Of thcs
were train service men.