Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-10-24
by The Associated Press.

Chicago, Oct. 23.-Officials OF the
Brotherhood of Railway Mail Clerks.
Freight Handlers, Express and Sta
ton Employees, with a membership
of S50,000, tonight joined the unions
which have voted not to 60 on strike
by adopting resolution in which
their men are refused authorization
to walkout for the present. The
matter will be reconsidered after the
labor board renders its rules and
working conditions decision. The
action brought the number of rail
workers who will not strike to more
than three-fourths of the nations
total.
BY The Associated Press.
Houston, Tex, Oct. 23.-Three
freight trains were operated on the
International & Great Northern
system today, General Manager
E. G.. Goforth announced tonight.
This follows complete tieup of
freight service Saturday by the
strike of approximately 900 union
trainmen. Union officials declared
they had adopted a policy of "hands
off" and would not interfere with
any move the company might make
70 resume service.
Mr.. Goforth stated that the crews
were made. up Of recruits from sew
eral applications on file and from
officials. No distinction is being
made between union or nonunion
men, he stated, declaring several APP
plications had been received from
union men.
Property Under Guard.
Armed guards patrolled the prop
critics of the company, but moi. one
instance of violence marked the sec
ond day Of the walkout.
|. Movement of freight traffic In the
yards here was at a. standstill.
"The strike so far has been en-
tirely successful to our cause"
union officials declared. 1--WE did not
expect to tie up passenger service.
We took into account at the ouset
that, with so few men called out
working on passenger trains, that
they would be able to recruit enough
men from among officials to fill out
a crew. But we have demonstrated
what a few men out means and we
are satisfied"
Mr.. Goforth stated that outside Of
the reports to him that few freight
trains were operating there had
been no change in the general situa-
ton. "We are feeling our way
cautiously" he said, "and expect
soon to have service resumed"
Labor Board Blamed.
Cleveland, Oct. 23.-Responsibil-
ity for the railroad strike, scheduled
to begin next Sunday, was placed
on the railroad labor board and the
carriers in, statement issued to-
day. This and the announcement
that all general chairmen of the big
Five" brotherhoods, numbering
about 900, also have been cited to
appear before the board in Chicago
Wednesday, featured today's strike
developments here.
The attitude of the union chiefs
was explained following conference
Of four of the "Big Five" leaders, in
statement by w. S. Stone, presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers, in which the hope
that a solution acceptable to the ems
ployes may yet be found was reit.
Grated.
1t was indicated that the state-
ment may be regarded as an out
line of the stand the labor leaders.
will take when they appear before
the labor board in Chicago Wednes.
day.
Text Of Statement.
The statement said:
with regard to the position OF
the employees Of the railroads, we
can only say that their represents
tives are patiently awaiting for any
development that would appear to
offer a solution of the problem con-
fronting them.
"We are not now nor have we
ever been desirous of being party
to precipitating a strike, but when
it is quite apparent that the railroads
propose not only to reduce wages
but to take from those employees
practically ail conditions of service
maintained for many years and the
railroad labor board is unable, or
fails to give US any assurance that
the interests Of the employees will
be protected. nothing is left for the
employees but to stand on their con-
stitutional rights to retire from the
service.
Rate Cut Authorized.
"We are advised through the news
papers that the Interstate Commerce
commission has authorized a con-
siderable reduction in freight rates
Notwithstanding the fact that