The Connecticut labor news., 1921-10-14

While the result of the referendum of the shop crafts on the various railroads has been known for some time, and was by a huge majority in favor of a strike to resist the wage reduction demands, the heads of the Trainmen and other Big Four branches of railroad service have been in executive session in Chicago all week canvassing the vote on those divisions. Although no formal an nouncement was made as to the result an informal statement was given out that these workers had also voted overwhelmingly to resist the wage cuts at this time While they are bound to act in accNdance with the vote ,the brotherhood chiefs during the latter part of the week counselled patience on the part of the workers, hoping that the Railroad Labor Board would again take action and head off break with the railroads. That a break would come if necessary was, however, indicated by the chiefs, but it would be so arranged that the country would suffer the least incon- VenIence possible.
 Ii railroad strike Is called it will not be one that will tie up the entire transportation system of the country,
 
 Order of Railway Conductors, an nounced.
 "If we find 1t necessary to break with the railroads, our aim will be to inconvenience the public as little as possible" said MT. Sheppard. No one, 1 am sure, IS considering a gen. eral walkout l have privately given President Harding this assurance.
 To be effective strike would have to be something more than a mere declaration,' MT. Sheppard said. "Hardships undoubtedly would result and there would be suffering. But transportation would not be tied up everywhere and the large cities would not suffer greatly"
 With this on their minds a large number of businessmen, shippers and manufacturers arranged a conference with the heads of the leading rail- roads and urged reduction in freight rates as means Of heading off trou- ble and creating a business boom that would qnickly stabilize industry and restore normal conditions While ostensibly Ito stimulate business and solve the unemployment problem" ad- vices coming 10 local railroad men from New York indicate that the manufacturers and shippers laid down the law to the railroad officials and pointed out clearly to them that ii trouble arose between the roads and their employees, very little sym pathy would be shown the roads by the shippers or general public as long as the roads maintained their high rates.
 Official action ordering the general rate reduction and authorizing an ap- plication to the Interstate Commerce Commission for reduced schedules IS expected 10 be taken in Chicago to- day by the Association of Railway Executives. The association's execu- tive committee already has approved the reductions on the ground that more than 100000 freight cars are idle, due to present high rates.
 The proposed reductions will mean a general all-around cut of from E to 20 per cent, in freight rates on all classes and commodities of freight flowing over the rails today" the roads statement says. "It will bring back to within hailing distance the freight rates as they were before the Interstate Commerce Commission raised them on an average of 3s per cent, effective. in August, 1920.
 Immediate needs of business the country over, present transportation charges of more than the traffic will
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