Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-10-27
UNION HEADS PASS
! BUCK IN RAIL ROW
]
Put Blame For Strike on Labor
Board and Carriers.
WASH HANDS on REstT
600 "Big Five" General chairmen
Are Ordered to Appear at Hearing
Wednesday. ~


Cleveland responsibility for
the nationwide railroad strike,
kEeheduled to begin next Sunday morn
ing, was placed on the railroad labor
board and the carriers in a statement
issued here.
This and the announcement all the
general chairmen of the big Five"
numbering some 600 men, also have
been cited to appear before the board
in Chicago, Wednesday, featured the
strike developments here.
The attitude of union chiefs was ex-
planned following a conference of four
of the big Five" leaders in state
ment by Warren S. Stone, president Of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin-
GERS, in which the chiefs reiterated
their hope a solution acceptable to the
employees may yet be found.
1t was indicated the statement may
be regarded as an outline of the stand
the labor leaders will take when they
appear with the executives of the rail
roads before the labor boar |. The
statement follows:
"With regard to the position of the
employees of the railroads ar this time,
We can only say their representatives
ne patiently awaiting for any develop
ments that will appear to offer solu--
lion of the situation confronting us.
eve are not now, nor have we ever
been, DESTROYS of being a party to pre-
dpitating strike, but when it is quite
apparent the railroads propose not only
to reduce wages, but to take from their,
employees practically all the conditions
bf service that have been maintained
for many years and the railroad labor
BOARD is unable, or fails to give, US
my assurance that the interests of EN-
Dloyes will be protected from such on
laughts, nothing is left for the employ
IS but to stand on their constitutional
lights to retire from the service of
hese carriers - go. ~
1--WE are advised through the news
Iapers that the interstate commerce
commission has author: ed alconsider.
Bile reduction in freight rates.
"Notwithste nding the fact that the:
RACES of the railroad employees have
cen redu .ed II per cent since July l,
here was no talk Of a reduction Of
reights until this crisis arose Now
be railroads are attempting to- gain
ne sympathy of the public in this
isis by this late reduct n of rates.
"The public never would have receiv-
this reduction with the consent of
e railroads had the railroads Lot
zen confronted with this emergency"
t&o
inference were W. G. Lee, president
the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
en-; L. e. Sheppard, president of the
rider of Railway Conductors and w.
Carter, president. of the Brotherhood
Firemen and Enginemen. I. G. Ca
hen, president of the SWitchmen's
zion of North America, the other
amber of the "Big Five" is expected
arrive here and attend future con
rences.
Establishment of open shop condi-
pms on the fremont & Gulf railroad
hd the strike of trainmen on the In
irrational & Great Northern railroad,
ere under discussion at the confer
ice. but none of the chiefs would COM
ent on the situation on those roads,
lcept an announcement by President
ee that he had received reports from
S general chairman on the Interna-
onal & Great Northern that practi-
llly 100 per cent of the trainmen had
lit the service
One of the subordinate leaders said
it is correctly reported the men on.
{ fremont & Gulf line have accepted
pen shop conditions, it is due to their
NV in number and having little hope
their resistance being successful. He
timated the fremont & Gulf situa-
pn will be brought to the attention
the railroad labor board when it
eets in Chicago Wednesday.
1t was learned the chiefs have re-
lived kilograms FROM large number
the general chairmen of the five or
lnizations reporting they had been
ted by the railroad labor board to
bpear before that body in Chicago
ednesday.
With the approximate 600 general
airmen. the five chief executives of
Q brotherhoods, their vice presidents
ID other grand officers, together with
o 200 railroad executives, it was said
,proximately 1000 officials of the I'M
MS and of the railroads have been
ted to appear.
MIR and Mrs, 7. N. Huffman