Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-10-24
RAIL STRIKERS
MIGHT GET AID
Of STEEL CLASS
BY RALPH BURTON
Especial Dispatch 10 Morning JournaD
Copyright 1921 by Albuquerque JournaD

Washington, Oct. 23-The fl
nancial figures involved in the
proposed strike of the railroad
workers are staggering, The rail-
way workers have been drawing
pay to the extent OF four and
half billion dollars n year. Dur
ing the European war period and
the two years following the arm
istice, the pay of the railway
workers was increased approx
mately 100 per cent. The cut of
July l last which had been made
the basis of the strike order. was
IL per cent.
In the round numbers the rail-
way employees since the cost of
living began to mount to war
time heights, received the follow
ing increases:
In 1916-$270, 900, 900.
In 191S-$S7O, 100000.
In 1919--S230, 900, 900.
In 1920-$S30,000.000,
This made total Of $4,000, 000,-
600. The cut of July /, amounted
to about $47O,000.OOO. The total
iiNiNus AZ pay tilSll, DIulblll TIC
aggregate pay of the men to
around $4,000, 100000 and was
something less than 100 per cent.
The pay of the men, allowing for
the July cut, is probably about
$50 per cent of the pre-war rate.
Meantime there is nothing in
the calm about the headquarters
of the American Federation of
Labor in this city to indicate that
the greatest railroad strike In the
history of the United States has
been officially ordered.
There has been little or no dis
cussion az to what steps the rank
and file of organized labor shall
take in the event that the rail-
road workers take the bit in their
teeth and go ahead with the strike !
despite the efforts that are being
made toward q settlement. It is
said at headquarters that there Is |
comparatively little necessity for !
worry as to the attitude of organ
lied workers outside the railway
unions.
If the railroad tie-up should pro-
coed approximately according TO
the plans that have been lai1
down, 1t Is claimed there would be
no need for sympathetic strikes,
for lack OF transportation facilities
would paralyze virtually every line
IF industry.
Without doubt. IL actual support
were necessary the railroad work.
'rs would get II from the miners.
In England recently, however, the
miners who were on strike, called
n vain for help from the trans
port workers In the British Isles
At first this help was promised
md a general tie-up was indicat
al. At the last moment, however.
he railway men recanted their
ioeiston and the miners were left
o their fate. There Is reason to
relieve that the rail workers in the
United States would also have the
support OF such steel workers as
IRE organized, for the recent dras-
ic program of reductions In the
'toel industry has caused resent
nent.
The big plohlem of the "big
our" hrotherhoods is not concern
ID with the solidarity Of labor gem
rally. 1t is principally a matter
II solidarity among railroad work.
RS themselves.
For several years the shop men
AVE lamented that the big four
showed too great
cndency to leave the shop men in
he lurch, to fight out battles by
themselves. The roads have ex-
number of strikes. OF
'reater or less magnitude, by shop
men. while the "aristocrats of the
all" remained on the job. But |
low the tables are turned. AL !.
hough the "big four" members
ave fewer grievances than the
hop men-since the resumption of ,
,iece work affects only the latter /
they have ostensihly cast the die.
When the big four" men vote
q go on strike they are we'll aware
4 the seriousness Of the step.
hon men may strike and lose, and
70 to the next town for new Jobs,
and conductors. II they
trike must win. There will be no
lew Jobs for them. They are stalk
ng everything on the outcome.
Meyerbeer, like Handel, compos-