Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-19
GOVERNMENI'MEN
TO MEET LABOR
HEADS THURSDAY
Board Expected to Suggest
Freight Rate Cut as Basis
Of Discussion.
~(By The Associated Press. )

Chicago, Oct. 19.-The first of a
series Of conferences in Chicago at
which Representatives of all factions
in the railroad strike situation. may
decide the outcome Of the strike call
issued by the big four brotherhoods
for October 80. began here today to
continue over the Weekend. three
group meetings are scheduled:
Executives of the shopmen.
maintenance of way workers, clerks.
telegraphers and others meet today.
tomorrow. Friday and Sunday to de-
eide their attitude toward the an
nounced strike Of the train service
employees. with indications Of final
decision at a joint conference Sun
day.
2-Brotherhood leaders are on their
way here to hear the government 5
attitude through the railroad labol
board tomorrow.
3-Railroad executives of the CEN
trail division meet Friday in Chicago
to discuss all phases of the strike sit
ua.tion. while executives Of other divi-
sions meet simultaneously in their
own regions.
Basis for Discussion.
Freight rate reductions approx
rately equivalent to the IL per cent
wage reduction in wages ordered last
u
were indicated as the probable basis
OF suggestion the labor board will pro-
pose. with the backing of the admins
tration. to avert the strike.
President J. r.. Howard Of the farm
bureau federation, today. had on file
before the interstate commerce COM
/, mission here petition for 1c to 20
per cent freight rate reduction on ne
cessities of life and at the same time
i /, %oI@ ,,oi@ lao rS l.
road executives urging them to join
; him in a, conference here. ;,
Attitude Uncertain.
Failure of the brotherhood chiefs
+! to join a-sstrike agreement at confer
ences here last week with the eleven
| other railroad Unions has made I'M,
|! certain the outcome of theirs ke
conferences here beginning today.
Referendum votes have authorized
/ the leaders of the maintenance of WAY
(! men and shop men. who meet here to.
| day and tomorrow, to call strike
at their discretion but shop crafts
! leaders have summoned their execu-
! tive council and executives Of the
maintenance of way union have called
| general chairmen OF their twelve di-
| visions. Membership of these two and
! others of the eleven organizations
which have not issued strike notices
number 1.500.oOo-as compared with
! half a million in the train service
group now under instructions for sec.
tional walkouts beginning October 80
I Officials of. the t@legraphers have
! scheduled meeting here Friday and
! the clerks Sunday. No definite deci.
: sion. leaders of these eleven unions
| indicated. will be made before the END
of the week.
Developments in the possibility OF
a strike order by others of the sixteen
standard labor organizations. besides
the five train service bodies. were seer
today, in a call for assembling tomor.
row of the conference committee OF
100 of the railway employees depart.
ment. American Federation of Labor
This committee has full power to or,
der strike, of the six shop crafts.
! No final action was expected. how,
ever, before Friday. according to 8
NJ. Jewell, president Of the depart
ment.