Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-27
$4,000 RAILROAD.
MEN WAIT WORD To
CO OUT ON STRIKE.
OFFICIAL OF TRAINMEN'S
BROTHERHOOD CLAIM THREE
DAYS WILL BE NECESSARY BE-
FORE VOTE IS ENTIRELY
COUNTED.

Chicago, Sept IA railroad
strike involving 10000 railway train
men, members of the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen, Is imminent
James Murdoch. vice president of the
organization. said yesterday. He add
ed that approximately IS per cent Of
the ballots cast by members of the
brotherhood and so far counted ia
vored a strike.
The temper OF the tranmen, as IN
dictated by the ballots counted, is SAID
by union officials to be reflected in the
other of the big four brotherhoods
and affiliated railroad unions. They
said that while they hal small doub'
the railway employees had voted gen
cral strike rather than accept wage
reduction, the conservative counsel u
the leaders might prevail against
walkout
Next Monday officials Of the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers Or
der of Railway Conductors, Brother
hood Of Locomotive Firomen and En'.
ginemen and the Switchmen's Union
of North America will meet here 10
count the strike ballots Of their 259,-
600 members Railroad union officials
here expect all Of the brotherhooGS
and the SwitChmens Union TO cast
substantial maiorities for strike.
Reports of the general chairmen OF
the trainmen when they assembled
Yesterday were plainly Disappointing to
the union leaders The trainmen hal
voted on a separate ballot because
their leaders did not approve OF tn
joint ballot prepared by other unions.
Fifty-seven general chairmen who
arrived here yesterday reported u
Mr.. Murdoch that their men favor
strike. Our past experience ha'
been that q per cent of the men Will
always vote for strike
The form of the ballot used carries
vote for or against "a strike unless
the wage question can be settled salts
factory to the general grievance COM
mittee.. The executive committee
will consider calling OF a strike as
soon as the vote is known.
Inc united StdlCS ldllNd N idD'
board will issue a finding to be made
public relative to the action OF the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad company be-
cause of the railroads refusal to ap-
pear before the board yesterday tn
railroad company, in a letter to the
board, had denied the right of tho
board to Invade the domain of pri.
yate management
Only two-thirds vote IS necessary
to bring about strike. Mr. Murdoch
said he 10 in favor OF calling the strike
at once. 1t only remains for all the
ballots to be counted. This will have
been accomplished, Mr. Murdoch said
by tomorrow or Thursday.
Mr.. Murdoch is acting president in
the absence of w. G. Lee, who is III
in Cleveland. but who is expected
here within a few days, The result
of the balloting will then be made
public.
"The men who are counting the bal
lots have informed me that 30 per
cent of the men are for leaving tn
service" Mr.. Murdoch said. 1T is
not likely there will be much of a
change from that.
After the result of the voting has
been determined the committeeman
will be sent to their homes and will
advise the men that the permission OF
the general board has been grantee
for them to quit work. The strike
will then be called at whatever time
has been designated. ! do not kno'
how soon this would be- but believe l.
should be within twenty-four hour
after the strike has been determine,
upon by the general board"
The Brotherhood Of Railway Train
men include in their union the brake
men, baggagemen, yardmen and con
ductors OF every big railroad in tn
country. The men received cut 0
1215 per cent from the railway labOi
board and continued to work, pendin;
ballot on the question of accepting
or striking.
The railway shopmcn voted tt
strike last July by a majority of ar
proximately 325,00 to 4C0, 900 to wall
out, but the strike has not been called
because union officials believed thei
cause would be strengthened If tn
strike Is made on points in the work
ing agreement as well rs on the Wa5
question. A demand is to be mao
on the railway board for one decision
covering all of the working rules, aftc
which another strike ballot will b,
taken.
The ballots of the trainmen are BE-
ing counted in the Majestic Hotel O
ficers in session besides Mr. Alurdocl
are J. A. Farquharson, Val Fitzpat
rick, r. r. Dodge, assistant to tn
president; NJ. j. Murphy and w. n
Doak,