Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-15
READY TO WALK OUT;
RAIL UNION HEADS
BACKED BY WORKERS
Continued from page 1.

nationwide.
Union leaders who had been hope
ful Of avertlng n strike, some Of whom
had even opposed IT, declared today
the action OF the railroad executives
yesterday In deciding on further wage
reductions had destroyed tn, last hope
OF peace.
Ninety seven per cent OF the United
brotherhood OF Maintenance Of Way
employees and shop laborers union
have voted 70 strike. \ G. smock, vice.
president announced today
smock said he would announce to-
morrow night whether the strike will
be carried out.
The vote was taken Independently
OF the Big Four Brotherhoods, Feder-
ated Shop Crafts and switchmen's
Union. which already have announced
strike votes
When the officials OF the sixteen
leading rail unions went into confer
ence this morning, Warren Stone
grand chief Of the Brotherhood OF
! Locomotive Engineers and w. @. Lee
/ President OF the Brotherhood Of Rail
way Trainmen, announced they would
leave tonight for their headquarters
at Cleveland.
The announcement Indicated
definite decision by the unions TODAY
as to whether the strike should be
ordered.
While the labor members we're in
conference with the President. William
H. Johnston, president Of the Inter-
national Association Of Machinists. is-
sued statement in which he deciar-
ed that "if the trainmen and other
operating employees go out on Novem-
ber /, the nachinists and the railroad
lemployes in Group Two. which in
cludes all the shop crafts win 20
J with them at the same time"
This would result, ne declared. 'in
the greatest tie-up In history"
! Mr.. Johnston added that he had mo
doubt but that Group Three which in
] cludes the maintenance Of way and
! clerks and other unions win also go
: with the transportation and shop
( crafts"
: Mr.. Johnston returned from Chica gc
yesterday when he met with the rep.
; resentatives Of the 16 railway unions
, Notices TO be posted by railroads
' next week, announcing another ten
= Per cent cut in wages, affective in 30
. days. win not mean an immediate re-
duction on that date, it was authori.
: tatively stated in railroad circles to.
e day. The railroads do not intend II
violate the Transportation clause pro.
z viding for appeal 10 the United State,
$ Railroad Labor Board, it was indi
e Gated. because to do 80 probably woult
{ ALLEVIATE public opinion.
The plan to be followed, as provid
q ed by the law is:
- The railroads win post their notice,
: announcing the cut in 80 days. an,
!, then invite the union committees I,
i conferences to discuss the cut II
o event the union men refused to accep
= IT, the dispute viii then be referred {,
the Labor Board for adjustment, tn,
cut being automatically suspende,
until either approved or denied b.
the board. Decision by the board MAJ
take anywhere from one 10 six months
or even longer, depending upon tn,
3 amount Of evidence taken and the con
i dition of the boards docket.
: The board now has several hun
Q dred minor cases, and the very i'm
dispute pending. In event the wag
:. cut case takes it's regular place on tn
e docket, IL might not be reached befor
n the first Of the year, and as the union
r probably would present masses of evi
$ dence in opposition, the hearing prob
e ably would consume several month.
o The proposed ten per cent cut woul
bring wages back to practically tn
7 same level as prevailed prior to Apr
n 1920.
, For the principal classes Of labc
:. those schedules were:
y Passenger service engineers (day
T S5.60-se.60.
Freight service engineers. (day
n s6.60-$S.52.
5 Yard service engineers day $3.50
S6.0S
q Passenger service fremen (day
e S40G-$5.00.
Freight service fremen day. s4.2
-s615
:, Yard service fremen day s4.1s-
I SAP
J. Yard service foremen, (day) $50
: Helpers (day) $500.
! Switch tenders day $500,
= Boilermakers Chour) s.72.
= Blacksmiths (hour) S.72.
y Carpenters (hour) s.45.
Track laborers (hour) $40.
Section foremen (month) 500.
Yard firemen helpers (hour) $685.
Hostlers, outside (day) $3.50.
= Hostlers, inside day S5.53l5.
- Halnare fdaty1 S5 691L