Great Falls tribune., 1921-10-20


nal decision whether a general
materialize.
, In the conference with the labor
board rested the possibility of the
big five" being persuaded to cancel
their order for a walkout, while in the
meetings of the II unions, which actu-
ally started Wednesday, was to be de-
cided whether these organizations,
holding the balance of man power
through numbering three -fourths of the
nearly 100000 rail workers in their
membership. would join the Big five
If they walked out October 80 as
planned.
Union Chiefs Ready
Warren s. Stone, president of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers;
W. 6. Lee. president of the Brother
hood Of Railroad trainmen; w. s.
Carter. president Of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Fireman and Engine
men: I. c. Cashen. president Switch
mems Union of North America, and
p. P. Curtis, vice president Order of
Railway Conductors, left Cleveland to-
night for Chicago to meet with the
labor board at the latter's request. T..
E, Sheppard, president of the con
ductors' organization, also is expected
to be here Thursday.
While this conference was looked
on as the most important Of the peace
moves, railroad men professed to see
signs of a peaceful settlement Of the
difficulties in the attitude of B. NJ
Jewel, head of the 476,OOO members of
the six railway shop craft organiza-
tions. and of j. c. Smock. vice presi-
dent of the maintenance of way union.
which numbers 100000 men.
The shop crafts executive council
met Wednesday but took no action
committee of 100. The committee.
while having power to call strike.
also is expected to defer action by
calling in the 1000 general chairman
for a meeting Friday when the final
attitude Of these groups probably will
be made known.
The maintenance of way executive
council met only informally. the formal
meeting coming Thursday when all
of the members are expected to be
present
Do Not Want Strike
Il cannot speak for my entire or
ganization now, but personally I will
say that We do not want strike, that
we would never strike on the wage
question unless forced to. and that we
will not go into any walkout with the
brotherhOods unless we have definite
promises of cooperation which so far
have not been Forthcoming from them"
said ]. c. Smock, maintenance of way
vice president.
Mr.. jewell repeated his statements |
hat he was opposed to the strike. The !,
abor board will go into conference with |
assurance of full support from every !
governmental department. its |
said. following an executive !
session at which they went over the |
'ase. One member intimated that he |
believed the board had found legal |
method of enforcing its ruling. Here
ofore the board has maintained that it |
lad no power to carry out its decisions !
md the unions and railroads each have
harged the other with violating the |
'oard's rulings.
The board had no announcement to
make Wednesday night as to its pro-
edure Thursday, other than to say !
hat the situation would be gone over
1t was understood. how
osed by the public group in Wash |
for acceptance Of the
asst wage cut and cancellation of the
trikc order of the men with the roads
reducing freight rates and
postponing further wage |
be the basis of discussion. t
Fighting for Lie
Board members admitted that they
ealizc the board really is fighting for
IS life and that much of it's future
epends on its ability to handle the
resent situation
In connection with the possibility of /
his conference averting strike it
Tas pointed out. however. that many
lilroads have announced positively that
he public group proposal is impossible,
l their opinion, while labor leaders
ave expressed very warm approval
it.
In this connection. Samuel q. Dunn,
ditor of Railway Age. issued state
rent following conference with local
nil heads denouncing the plan as "in
Giving complete surrender by the
Dads to the labor unions" /,
The statement said that "lahor lead
rs opposition to the plan was bluff.
5 it was exactly what the unions
ant" Il
Possibility of immediate steps to
ring about a labor board hearing on I
le proposed 10 per cent wage cut
hich the roads recently announced
ley would aeek. was reported in rail
relies. but locally no action yet has
zen tsken to this end.