The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-10-20
WILL SETTLE
WALKOUT But
NOT POSTPONE
Union Chiefs Say Prospective
Rail Walkout Cannot be
Halted, Though 1t Can Be
Adjusted.
CONFER With BOARD
(By Associated Press)

CHICAGO, Oct. 20.-The proSpec-
tive strike cannot be postponed,
but it can be settled.
This was the opinion of the four big
brotherhood chiefs and the president
of the Switchnen's union, at con-
ference this morning at which it was
learned they had considered all posi-
BILE phases of the situation as they
may be presented at the meeting this
afternoon with the United States la
Dor board
The meeting this morning saw the
chiefs of the four leading brotherhoods
and the president of the switchmen,
gathered together for the first time
since the strike order was issued last
Saturday.
The five presidents were in confer
ence two hours and adjourned shortly
after noon ready to present a united
front at the meeting with the labor
board at 2 o'clock p. m.
After the meeting with the board
the union leaders will resume their
conference, and according to present
plans, statement of the situation as
it then exists, will be issued and
signed by the five executives.
In Receptive Mood.
Following the conference this morn
ing, on which the executive refused to
comment officially, it was unofficially
learned, that the unions were in a re-
ceptive frame of mind, and hopeful of
some development favorable to them
from the railroad labor board meeting
that would avert the strike.
II was explained positively that no
provision had been made for postpon-
ing the strike and that hopes were for
a settlement.
The union leaders declared they had
no program to present to the board
for settlement of the strike, and that
! they were going into the meeting with
an open mind to hear any proposals
that the board has to offer and to pro-
ceed on that basis to discuss possible
| settlement
Unions Optimistic.
! Union headquarters were optimistic
and there was q strongly evident feel
| ing that there would be no strike un-
| less something unexpected occurs to
! The II standard unions marked time
today, awaiting the outcome of the la
| Dor board meeting.
| While few of the general chairmen
met to discuss strike plans, the ma
| jority crowded the hearing rooms o.
| the labor board to see the Pennsyl-
vania railroad cited for failure to obey
| the boards orders.
/ in h,,,ot hav
hood circles, Vice President McGrath
of the railway employees department
of the American Federation of Labl',
| (the sixth federated shop craft. de
clared that before the labor board
hearing on the Pennsy case, began
! that strike seemed to him to be
certain. The shop crafts have voted
! to strike, but have not issued strike
orders. Twenty-Five railroads have
violated labor board decisions, No
Grath said, and the men are insistent
on walking out. n. P. Good, chairman
of System Federation No. 80, the shop
crafts locad on the Pennsylvania lines
announced that he had ordered a new
strike vote taken among all shop en-
ployes on the Pennsy lines. both union
and non union, and that the shop mer
WOulu UOI Slllh ul1lll IIlC suit Va
the ballot is known.
The result of the new ballot will be
known about the first of the month, "
President Good said. If a majority of
all shop employees vote for the union
TO represent them, negotiations he
said, would be re-opened with the
roads, and if they are rejected "then
and then only will we feel justified
in exercising our constitutional rights
ind taking advantage of the strike
vote already cast.
CLEVELAND, Oct. 20-Headquart
ers of the three Railroad Brotherhoods
engineers, trainmen, firemen and en-
ginmen displayed meagre signs OF
strike activities here today, while the
president of the organizations, Warren
S. Stone, w. G. Lee and W. S. Carted
respectively, attended conferences
with the railroad labor board in
Chicago.
Routine matters, pertaining to. the
proposed strike were being looked
after by the office forces. Members
of the advisory board of the brother
hood of locomotive engineers or the
executive committee of firemen and
enginemen, held no conferences In the
absences of their chiefs.