New-York tribune., 1921-03-15
Executives Summoned to
Appear in Chicago To-
morrow and Produce
Records of Operation
Lee Says Men Will
Use Every Weapon
Workers Open Fight for
Federal Aid to Retain
Wartime Pay Standard
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

Special Dispatch to The Tribune
CHICAGO, March 1.-THE thou
sands of railway employees through
out the country, facing a wage re-
duction, to-day opened their fight
against the proposal by demanding
and obtaining their demand that the
United States Railway Labor Board
summon before it leading railroad
executives and financiers to show
cause why present working rules
and conditions should not continue
in force. The employees contend
that wage cuts are not justified
The issuance Of the summons was
the result of the plea of Frank p
Walsh, attorney for the employees,
who insisted that the board take
action at once.
without these witnesses we can
not proceed" he declared.
Secret conferences among en-
ployees and labor leaders in railroad
centers throughout the country are
understood to have resulted in de
cision to reject the proposed cuts
when the conferences with the indi-
vidual employers are called and to
carry the matter at once before the
Labor Board.
Lee Hints at Strike
W. G. Lee, president of the Broth
erhood of Rrailroad Trainmen, is
sued a statement in Cleveland to-
day, in which he declared that if the
railways insisted on violation of the
law the employees would be fully
justified in using every resource at
their command to combat the pro-
posals Of the road. He said they
would not agree to any such jug
handled" application of the Cum
mins-Esch law, as certain roads had
announced they would place upon it..
Among those summoned by the labor
boa: ! are:
T. De Witt Cuyler. chairman Of the
labor committee of the Association of
Railway Executives; Carl Il. Gray, pres
ident of the Union Pacific General
w. W. Atterbury, vice president of the
Pennsylvania, and Secretary Robert Il.
Binkcrd of the Association of Railway
Executives
They are to appear on Wednesday
morning.
Secretary Binkerd WAS ordered 20
produce at the time all records, let
ters, recommendations and minutes Of ,
meetings Of the association Of cxecu-
tives with reference 10 the dispute
now before the board regarding the
abrogation Of working rules and ma
tional agreements.
Other Executives Summoned
Other summonses were issued for tho
following to be present at the hear
ings, at such time as the judgment o.
the chairman of the board deemed nee
essary TO prevent delay:
Hale Holden, president and chairman
of the executive committee OF the Chi
cago. Burlington & Quincy. c. II
Markham, president Of the Illinois Cen
tral, H. H. Dyldii, pitSiutHt VI tbr
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul; w. q.
Bcsler, president and general manager
of the Central Railroad of New Jersey,
New York City; +. E. Loomis. president
of the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia; J.
H. Young, president of the Norfolk &
Southern, Norfolk, Va; J. II. Hustis,
president of the Boston & Maine, Bos-
ton. Mass; \. d. Maher, pres dent o.
the Norfolk g. Western, Norfolk, Va;
W. R. Scott, president of the Southern
Pacific lines in Louisiana and Texas,
Houston. Tex; J w. Higgins, execu-
tive secretary of the Association Of
Western Railways; Charles z. Neill.
manager of the bureau of information,
Southeastern Railroad, Washington, b
G.; A. W. Trenholm, senior vice-presi-
dent of the c.. st. p, NJ. & O., St Paul.
Mimi, and John G. Walber, secretary
of the bureau of information, ~Westcrn
Railways, New York City
The whole matter could have been
disposed of weeks ago" declared At
torrey Walsh in asking the board to
summon the witnesses, "if we had been
granted the conference We asked with
the railway executives. Every time
come to Chicago l am accosted repeat
edy by poor devils who have been
driven to mendicancy that they may
have place to sleep and food to eat"
Walsh Charges Conspiracy
The attorney charged that there was
conspiracy of vicious circle" to
break down organized labor.
81, for one" declared Mr.. Walsh, "am
apprehensive of the economic and poll
teal consequences that may ensue
when we have hordes of hungry mer,
women and children in this country.
And. further, to aggravate an ALREADY
alarming situation, we have the threa.-
eEed debacle in the great packing IN
I dustry.
at means that the packers are back
L ing up the railroad owners and the MOI
gans and the Garys of the steel indus
try in concerted drive to break down
all labor organizations and to turn back
the clock that has registered all prog
ress that has been made in the rela
tions between those who work and
those who employ them.
"Oh, say TO you, that We arc not
deceived-as to what is transpiripg and