Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-14
UNION CHIEFS
ASK RAIL HEADS
FOR WAGE TALK
Carrying Strike Vote in
Pocket, Conference Sought
in Controversy.
STONE SENDS LETTER

STONE SENDS LETTER
CHICAGO, Oct H.-Railroad union
chiefs, carrying q strike vote in their
pocket, today asked railroad executives
meeting here for a conference TO discuss
the wage scale and employment eondi-
tons
Warren s. Stone, acting on behalf Of
the unions, sent a letter to the railroad
executives meeting att the blackstone
Hotel asking that a joint meeting be ar
ranged
The executives informed Stone that his
proposal would be taken up at the execu-
tfve's meeting, called to- discuss further
wage reductions for the men in order to
allow rate decreases.
COMPLETE
STRIKE PLANS.
In the meantime the union chiefs were
in session at the Great Northern Hotel,
completing plans for their strike, called
to start Oct 30.
According to the plans mapped out by
the union heads, men on all lines Will
not be called out at once. The Nations
transportation system has been divided
into ten groups for strike purposes.
Workers On the roads comprising one
group will be called out first. Then II
the management refuses to confer with
men in view of lettering wages and
working conditions, workers in the next
group viii be called out, and so on down
the line until every one of the 100000
union workers are out and the Nations
transportation system is tied up.
RAIL CHIEFS
AHO PLAN STRIKE.
These are the railroad union chiefs
who called the strike and mapped out
the plan:
W. S. Stone, Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers; L. E. Sheppard. Order
of Railway Conductors; w. S. Carter,
brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Engineers, and 7. C. Cashen. Switchmen's
Union OF North America. W. G. Lee of
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
was not in the city and did not sit in on
the sessions
The big brotherhoods have the back
ing of members of the Federal Shop
crafts who are affiliated with the rail-
way department Of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor. All union men viii act
together IN the crisis, it has been decided
by their leaders.
The union vote was taken in protest
against the u per cent cut in wages
which took place July l, On orders or
the United States Railroad Labor Board.
Since then, however, several men high
in the councils of unionism have stated
they would not use their powerful club
unless another attempt was made to cut
wages.
Things moved rapidly to a head follow
ing the news that was given out by the
unemployment conference in Washington
that leaders in the Administration favor
a reduction in wages SO that freight rates
may be slashed in an effort to stimulate
Stagnant business conditions
EXECUTIVES CONFER
WITH HARDING EFT. AL
These rail executives, leaders Of those
now in session here, conferred with Presi-
dent Harding, Secretary of Commerce
Herbert Hoover and other Administration
leaders in Washington last week: T. De
witt Cuyler, Samuel Rea, president of the
Pennsylvania system; President Smith Of
the New York Central, President Holden
~ the Burlington and Julius Krutt-
schnttt, chairman Of the board OF direc-
tors OF the Southern Pacific
Following the conference in Washing
ton came the call for the meeting Of rail-
road executives In Chicago. The
executives plan to ask the United States
Railroad Labor Board for 10 per cent
cut in wages in addition to the u pc
cent that was ordered last July.
The original petition presented to the
labor board by W. w. Atterbury, vice
president Of the Pennsylvania, asked for
a 20 per cent cut This would have
brought wages to the level they were be
fore the board granted the big boost In
pay in July 1920 The railroad board,
however, granted only 10 per cent
Now, executives wish the rest OF the
cut they asked for and state that unless
it Is granted many roads VIII go broke
and 1t viii be impossible to cut freight
rates for which the farmer and business
men all over the country are clsmOring
Executives are mum on the vote OF
their employees
Even though a railroad strike Is
averted, which seems highly improbable
In view OF the trend Of events, ii may be
months before there can be relief tc
business In the form OF reduced freight
rates, it was believed here.
The executives plan to ask the Inter
state Commerce Commission to cut rates
after the railroad board has acted on the
proposal to cut wages
Following presentation Of the WACO cut
petition it Is likely there VIII be hearings
Of both sides Of the controversy which
wiz last for weeks, after which the board
win make It's decision Not until then
win freight rates be cut and then, only
if the decision Of the board farors / wer
wages.