The Connecticut labor news., 1921-10-28
Monster Meeting of Sys- tenn Representatives Here During Week Decided to Stick on Jobs for Present at Least Trouble Ex- pected Later, How ever.

Whether or not the trainmen on the New Haven Road went on strike the car workers and shop men on the lines would have re- mained on their jobs and with the expected addition of the clerks and grapherS, would have given the road at least an operat- ing and repair force sufficient per haps to carry on business. These crafts had already taken a vote to strike on their own grievances and were willing to join with the trainmen in the crisis making, but withdrew when the trainmen curtly announced that when their would return to work, irrespective of what happened to the shopmen or carworkers.
 The grievances of these two branches are by no means settled and they may crop >ut within a week or two and again put the operation of the roads in jeopar- dy. They practically control the rolling stock for without them on the job it would be only matter would be so badly in need of re pairs that the road would be crippled. They have postponed their action however and unless something unforeseen happens will hold in abeyance until a decision is received to their protest against wage cuts and shop conditions, such as the Railroad Labor Board promised to get at immediately in settling with the trainmen.
 The shopmen on the New Haven system, in common with shopmen all over the country had voted many weeks ago to strike to resist wage cuts and changing working rules that would have meant the restoration of the 10 or I2- hour day, no overtime pay for long hours or Sundays and other conditions that would put the shops back into the straits they were years ago before the crafts employed therein became federation. At monster meeting held in Hermann's
 
 addressed by J. F. Anderson of Washington ,vice-president of the International Association Of Machin- istS, the men were CounSelled to stay on their jobs at this time but to hold themselves in readiness to strike in their own behalf at any time such an order might be issued. The sen timent was cheered to the echo by the 700 or more representatives of the men present.
 The car workers representatives about $50 in number from all over the system, met in the Trades Coun- cil hall last Saturday night and also decided to stay on their jobs, no mat ter what occurred with the trainmen and to go it alone, as the trainmen proposed to go it alone, had they gone out Daniel J. Collins of Kansas City, first vice-president of the Car Workers union, which IS practically the largest in number of all the rail road unions, addressed the meeting, ]. w. Chase, of Chicago, head of the blacksmiths branch, and General Or ganizer H. L. Smith of the A. F. of L. were also present and counselled the men to hold their places if the strike came but to await action by their own body before joining in the 
 president of the local division of the carmen, and Edward Barzce, district representative, also instructed the men to stick 10 their places.
 The shop workers meeting on Tuesday night was >7,rcSidcd over by Joseph Tone, general representative of the International Association Of Machinists. Vice-President Ander- son, who is credited with knowing more of the inside situation on the railroads than any other of the off cers, because of his long terms of negotiations, told the men bluntly that they were up against what was probably the most serious situation in their history. Our backs are against the wall and we must resist" he declared He reviewed the history of crafts in the war and said that the ink on the armistice wasn't dry until the prohteers got busy in their at, tempt to take all Labor had gained away from them.
 Referring to the railroad situation he declared that the trainmen had practically declared they didn't want TTor+;r,,ed oy, Pace Fiphtl