Evening star., 1921-10-27
RAIL STRIKE HANGS
IN BALANCE AFTER
UNION CONFERENCE
Hooper Carries Proposals to
Meeting With Chiefs of
Brotherhoods.
LEADERS HURRIEDLY CALL
FOR SEPARATE MEETINGS
Will Hold Joint Meet Later,
Hints Labor Board May
Forbid Walk Out.
By the Associa ted Press.

BY the Associated Press
CHICAGO. October 27.-Ben w.
Hooper of the Railroad Labor Board
left the conference of the big five union
executives shortly after noon and said
that the strike had not been settled yet,
that <ettlement could hardly be ex-
peosS" while he was at the meeting.
% Hooper stated after the meet
ing that he wanted it understood that
he had made no promises for the
board or for himself
Did you settle the striker" Mr..
Hooper was asked.
We'll you could hardly expect them
to do that with me in there" he re-
piled. Il was not sent by the board.
but went on my own volition. l still
believe that the only basis of settle
ment is the resolution recently adopt-
ed by the board
Brings Out Resolution.
Mr.. Hooper referred to the boards
request that the men refrain from
striking and give the board chance
10 act on questions of further wage
reductions or rules changes that the
railroads may bring before it.
Mr.. Hooper said the only thing he
desired to bring before the meeting
was the copy of the resolutions
passed by the board.
Il have done that and they will
now take the matter up" Mr.. HOOPER
said. we were surprised to find out
that these men had never officially
received a copy of this resolution. The
board thought they had. OF course,
they had seen parts of il, and possibly
all of ii in the newspapers. but Of
hclally II mad never reached them.
lnasmuch as We discussed this
resolution with the railroad execu-
tives ii was only natural that we
this body today"
President Lee of the trainmen, ac-
companied Mr.. Hooper back to the
Labor Board offices and then returned
to the brotherhood conference.
Separate Meetings Called.
The union meeting broke up soon
after MIR. Hooper left with an an
nouncement that the five organiza-
tions would hold separate meetings
about 1 pm. and joint meeting at
3 pm.
Terms Of the Railroad Labor Boards
final ruling on the strike, if the board
decides one shall be necessary, as
discussed informally by members of
the board, brought out these salient
points:
/. That the impending walkout
must not be called.
?. That the walkout. if called. will
be in violation of the transportation
act. as it will be in rebellion against
decision No. l41-the July / wage
cut made by the board pursuant to its
authority under the act.
). That the board will regard the
strike, if called for any other reason
than dissatisfaction with the July /
decision, as evidence of conspiracy
to paralyze transportation"
The board holds il would be con-
trary to court decisions and that the
right to strike" exists only where
the strike is called upon grounds set
forth in strike ballots. This referred
to statements by some union leaders
that they feared further reductions
IN wages and changes in working con-
d1t1ons would be made by the roads.
4. That members of the big five"
and telegraphers' unions remain at
work and rely upon the board to
safeguard their interests from further
encroachments possibly contemplated
by the roads.
Thorn Fails to See Hooper.
Alfred p. Thorn. counsel for the
association of railway executives ap-
peared at the Railroad Labor Board
offices in response to a call from Mr.
he would call later when he found
that Mr.. Hooper had gone to the
union executives meeting.
Mr.. Thorn called again at the board
and, finding Mr.. Hooper still out, said
he could not wait, and was returning
to Washington.
The Railroad Labor Board planned TO
hold its first meeting today at pm.
Members discussed informally the
unions attitude brought out at yes
! terday's hearings, questioning the
powers and the authority of the
board. 1t was the opinion of MEM
| bers that this attitude would be dis
cussed at the afternoon meeting, un-
| less the conference of union eXecu-
tives this forenoon pointed way
out of the strike.
The union conference was attended
| by more than 500 representatives of
! the Big Five organization. The con-
| ference was executive, and after MIR.
| Hooper went in no one one emerged
| from the room during the first hour.
The telegraphers were not repre-
] sented at this mornings union con-
ference.
Expected to Make Appeal.
Mr.. Hooper was expected to make a
| final appeal on behalf of the govern
ment for calling off the threatened
strike.
| The boards proposal. it was re-
ported, is guarantee that neither
wage cuts nor rules changes will be
considered until all pending cases are
disposed of.
[ Mr.. Hooper said before going into
I the meeting room that he was making
the call unofficially, and that he had
| a vague possibility" for settlement
| in mind, which he would outline to
the union men. 1T is very vague,
though" he added.
The meeting was arranged by Wal
ter l.. McMenimen, labor member of
| the board and a former official of the
trainmen's organization. McMeninen,
| however, did not accompany Hooper
and Whitney to the hall.
| There has been much discussion in
union and railroad circles as to the
possibility Of the Railroad Labor
| Roard putting out an order that the
| strike iS illegal and ordering it called
board members would not discuss
the report this forenoon, except to
say no such order had yet been pre-
pared.
| Calling on Strike Proposed.
| The proposition said to have been
made to the railroad employees after
Yesterdays public investigation, is that
| thew could call off the strike and intrust
to the Labor Board adjustment Of the
complaints which led up to the strike
whether the brotherhood chiefs con-
slider this a satisfactory settlement" of
their grievances which they have in-
sisted upon before revocation Of tbs
strike cali. is the question to be q:
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