Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-21

| that they did not consider these viola
tions the fault of the board. but due
to the fact that the transportation act
had no teeth
Ruaes the Problem
Continual alleged violations of the
boards orders had convinced the em-
ployes. they were quoted as telling the
board. that there would be no end to
encrOachments' on what the railroad
workers considered their rights. Prior
statements Of the brotherhood leaders
have repeatedly asserted that the aues-
ton Of working rules. which. they said.
they had been years in working up,
was the crux of the whofe situation.
Practically nothing was said in the
conference today about the II per cent
wage reduction OF last July /. which
was the technical basis on which the
strike was called. it was learned.
Members of the board said they did
not consider that the board had ex-
hausted its powers and that an execu
tive session would be held Friday when
further procedure would be determined.
Warren S. Stone. president of the
engineers; William G. Lee. president of
the trainmen. and W. S. Carter. presi-
dent of the firemen. returned to Cleve
land Thursday night. L. f. Sheppard.
head of the conductors. left for his or
ganization headquarters in Cedar Rar-
midnight train for Buffalo, where head
quarters of the switchmen's union is
located
The executive committee of the en-
gineers. fireman aud of the conductors
now are in session. The committees
of the other organizations will meet
there Monday
While the scene of the strike activi-
ties shifted back to Cleveland with the
ending of the conference, union man
close to the brotherhood chiefs said
he expected the next step to be taken
from Washington.
Send Washington Report
THE labor board has. of course. for
warded full report of the conference
to Washington" be said If there are
further steps toward conciliation. they
will be taken there. The unions will
do nothing further"
Union heads expressed the opinion
that IF there were any concrete re-
suits of the conferep- they lay in
the fact that the minus of the labor
board members were disabused of the
dea that the unions were not sincere in
calling u strike
When we went in there" said one
chief. 1.-The board seemed to be Of the
opinion that We had been bluffing and
were just waiting for someone to dis
suede US from carrying out the strike
order
believing this. the board had virtu-
settlement plan. It's members talked
a lot. but actually had little to say
Of any Importance, merely trying to
get us to change our plans
They seemed toethink that we could
postpone the strike. until we made il
plain that that could not even be con
sidered and that there must be set
tlement satisfactory to Us or the walk
out will begin at 6 a. m. October so
I'VE hope some angel will appear
with plan to avert the strike. But
there were no such angels at today's
meeting.
was that the labor board knows we are
not bluffing and we know that they had
no real plan to offer"
The only signed statement from a
union head was from Mr.. Stone. 1t
simply said:
Situation Unchanged
"The situation is unchanged and
suppose might add that | don't expect
"
heaven. for if get there I expect to
still have hundred newspaper report
ers chasing me around for signed state
nents.'
The eleven standard unions which
have voted for strike but have not
called one. merely marked time Thurs
lay. taking no action pending the out
.ome of the labor board conference.
The maintenance of way chairmen
aeld several informal sessions. the only
nkling of their attitude being a re-
mark by high official that this or
,anization is going to let the other fell
ows start the ball rolling before doing
my rushing"
They will meet again tomorrow, Al
sill the shop crafts and other organ
zations. but there is little likelihood OF
decision before Saturday or Sunday,
t was said.
Chiefs. of these organizations ex-
ressed keen interest in the labor board
onference. but refused to comment
n it. Il