The New York herald., 1921-08-09
CARRIERS SEE TEST
OF STRENGTH NEAR
Pennsylvania Railroad Likely
to Be Storm Centre if
Breach Widens.
BALLOT ORDER AN ISSUE
Brotherhood Demands Likely
to Be Rejected-Com-
promise Is Sought.
BALLOT ORDER AN ISSUE

The conviction is growing among To-
cal railroad officials that pending rail-
way labor questions dealing with wages
and working conditions are shaping for
a decisive test of strength between the
country's steam carriers and the ma
fore the end OF the year. Due 10 the
leadership taken by the Pennsylvania
Railroad It is believed that system will
become tho storm centre II the United
States Railroad Labor Board falls TO
close the breach between the shopcraft
workers and their employers.
The suggestion Of leaders Of the East
ern Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
and Shop Laborers at O members, meet
ing In Jersey City Sunday that a strike
would be In order IL the Labor Board
decided In favor of q ten hour insteau
OF an eight hour day, with the uncer-
tainty as to the results of the recent
decision OF the board ordering new elec-
tions on the Pennsylvania Railroad,
gave rise to reports yesterday that the
Pennsylvania Railroad was preparing
for strike and that details. already
worked out. provided for commissary
for the men to break the strike.
Although this report could not be
confirmed It is known that the decision.
Of the Labor Board ordering the Penn
sylvanfa to set aside as Illegal the eiec-
tions held to name representatives OF
the employees for the negotiation OF
new working rules. to cancel the agree
ments with 100000 men already nego-
tiated by those committees. and to take
a now ballot OF employees under rules
prescribed by the board. has nettled the
managers of the system.
So far as can be learned the officers
OF the road have not decided whether
to accept or reject the boards decision.
Their attitude. It Is learned. probably
will be determined by the result OF con-
ferences now In progress with the COM
pany's employees, In which the manage
ment Is seeking a compromise agree
ment as TO the form Of the ballot and
the elimination of that requirement
which would place the name OF each
employee on his vote.
Important developments in the East
crn territory are expected on Thursday
when the Eastern Presidents Conference
will meet at the Bankers Club to re-
ceive the report of the subcommittee,
headed by E. E. Loomis, president OF
LnS IeRlBn Ndilty EtdHfOdu, On tlc SOu-
ference recently held with representa-
tives OF the four train service employee
hrotherhoods.
At this conference the brotherhood
chiefs demanded that the wages in ef-
feet before the recent cut authorized by
tho Railroad Labor Board be restored
and that the executives pledge them
selves against further wage cuts and
against the abolition Of time and half
pay for overtime work. 1t Is under
stood the subcommittee viii recommend
fiat rejection on the ground that the
roads must be left free to demand fur
ther wage reductions II warranted by
lowered living costs and the liquidation
of labor in other industries.
II also will be pointed out that 10
grant the demands OF the brotherhoods
respecting overtime pay and other dis
puted points in working rules would vio-
late agreements now in effect on indi-
vidual roads and their respective bodies
OF train service employees.