The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-30

Chicago, Aug. 3G-(Unite d
Press. .)-Railroad union leaders
exerted every effort today to pre-
vent local unauthorized strikes,
pending taking of the strike vote
of 100000 railroad employees.
Union agents were sent to every
large railroad center of the coun-
try, ostensibly to help get out the
vote on the strike question but
also, it was learned, to keep the
men on the job until the ballots are
counted. Messages were sent by
B. M. Jewell, head of the railroad
department of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, and by other union
leaders 10 local union organiza
tons showing signs of restless
ness, urging them TO stay on the
job. Threats of unauthorized
strikes were received from several
large railroad centers.
Radicals Among Trainmen-
Wording of the ballot of the Or
der of Railway Trainmen which
does not leave it discretionary with
officers OF the union to call
strike, if members vote to '1eave
the service" was understood to be
to appease clamorings of
a considerable number of members
of the union for immediate action.
Although W. G. Lee, head of the
railroad trainmen- is considered
one of the most conservative rail-
road union leaders, his organiZa-
ton has a larger proportion of so
called radicals" than any other
railroad union. The one big rail-
road union, which heads of the
unauthorized strike movement of
a year ago are organizing, has
found considerable support among
the trainmen, according to John
Grunau, chief of the outlaw" or
ganization-
large brotherhoods progressing and
vote of 100000 shop workers favor
ing a strike already in, the rail
road unions will present a united
front within two weeks, according
to prediction of their leaders today.
Wage Cut Not Only Cause.
The union heads declare the men
might accept the wage reduction of
121h per cent which becomes effec-
tive on July L, provided they had
not become dissatisfied also on 9TH
er questions These included:
Refusal of some railroads to
meet with men to draw up working
agreements covering the entire
sysem-
placing of some railroad shops
in hands of local business men,
thus escaping jurisdiction Of the
United States railroad labor board.
Refusal of some railroads to
abide by the boards decisions.
Adjustment of overtime pay for
Sunday work for shopmen, except
in emergency cases
The labor board is stiIl consider
ing the decision which it will make
on the appeal OF the big four
for time and a half
for all overtime.
1t also has before It the appeal
made by the Pennsylvania railroad
from it's decisions on working
rules
Managers Think Strike Unlikely.
The railroad managers profess to
believe the railroad unions will not
strike. They do not believe they
will walk out because of the pres
ent employment conditions. With
!. 900 900 men out Of work they
claim it would be easy to hire men
to fill many of the strikers places
A strike of railroad men would
not have public support. railroad
claim, because of the
MANY privatiOnS which the public
would suffer.
The railroad heads even claim
that strike would not find full
support in the union membership,
due to the fact that the cut in
wages has not been as great as the
increase of a year previous, and
The unions have no outstanding
principle on which to base their !