The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-10-28
GOVERNMENT BODY
HAL IS WAGE GUT
u. S. Labor Board Serves Ulti-
matum on Rail Executives.
WILL FIRST CONSIDER RULES
Announces Policy TO Prevent Tieup OF
Lines-RaiIroad Executives De-
clare They Will Insist on
Reduction of Pay.

Chicago, Oct. 26-The government,
through the United States rail labor
board, took formal action to terminate
possibilities of nationwide strike set
for October 80.
The federal action came in the form
of an ultimatum assuring rail en-
ployees that they need fear no further
wage reductions for at least year.
This is direct and emphatic adj
vance refusal of the new 10 per cent
wage cut for which rail executives an
nounced last week they would petition.
1t also will act as an answer to the
chief bone Of contention raised by the
labor unions.
Ultimatum Is Served.
The ultimatum was served on the
executives at a special conference be-
tween the rail labor board and spe-
cial committee representing the rail-
way executives.
The announcement of the principal
line of attack on the strike plans fol-
lows a conference last week between
the board and labor chiefs.
Ben w. Hooper, former governor Of
Tennessee and public group member
of the rail board, announced the ulti-
matum just before the conference with
the executives convened.
"The board" he said, twill not con-
slider any further wage reductions for
at least a year. We propose to settle
all pending questions relative to work
ing rules of all classes of railway la
Dor before we again listen to any
wage petitions
eve have SO much of this other
class of work ahead of us it would be
an impossibility to complete it inside
of a year."
''It will become apparent" read the
keynote paragraph of the formal an
nOuncement,' that the employees who
are protesting against a further wage
cut are crossing bridges long before
they get to them and that the carriers
cannot hasten a wage reduction by ap-
plying for it at this time"
Executives Stand Pat.
The Association of Railway Execu-
tives later announced they would not
abandon their demand for an immedi-
ate 10 per cent reduction in wages.
The executives made this announce
ment after a committee of ten, head
ed by Thomas Dewitt Cuyler, chair
man of the association, had been
warned that the labor board would not
permit another wage cut within II
months The action of the executives,
in effect, defies the power of the wage
board to regulate wages.
The board had hoped the executives
would accept the ultimatum, so that
the railroad brotherhood chiefs could
be told when they go before the board
there would be no further demand for
wage reductions
Gloom settled over the labor boards
headquarters after the decision of the
roads was announced, and grave fears
were expressed that the strike might
come to a head October 80.
The executives, representing the
American Association of Railway Elk
ecutives, to whom the ultimatum was
given, are Thomas Dewitt Cuyler,
chairman of the association; Howard
Elliott, chairman Of the Northern Pa
cific; Hale Holden, president of the
Burlington; julius Kruttschmitt, chair
man of the Southern Pacific; Carl r.
Gray, president of the Union Pacific;
A. III. Smith, president of the New
York Central lines; Daniel Willard,
president of the Baltimore & Ohio; W.
B. Storey, president of the Santa Fe;
w. w. Atterbury, vice president of the
Pennsylvania lines, and Alfred P.
Thorn, vice president and general
counsel of the American Railway
Executives.
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