Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-18

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way Labor Board heads would seek to
taken advantage of this situation to
bring about an agreement The posi-
bility Of q conference between rail chiefs
and union leaders, under auspices Of the
Labor Board, was not discounted.
WANT GUARANTEE
OF NO REDUCTION.
Many Of the union leaders have stated
a strike could be averted now II guaran-
tees were given that there would be no
further wage reductions. This is taken
as an indication that the unions are will
ing to come half way in the matter Of
an agreement The railroads are under
stood to be seeking Keller from the
strained financial situation If some way
to accomplish this, other than reduction
OF wages, could be pointed out, it is be-
neved they would agree to the retention
OF existing wage scales
The attitude OF the unions affiliated
with the American Federation Of Labor,
as distinguished from the big four''s
brotherhoods, remained the uncertain fac
tor In the situation. series Of confer
ences continuing until Sunday viii set
tie this issue.
Frank suspicion of the chiefs of the
dcials Of the federation unions assembling
here These officials made it plain that
no action committing the federation
unions to definite strike program would
be taken until the purposes and methods
OF the brotherhoods were clearly under
stood.
FEDERATIONS STRIKE
WITH BROTHERHoODs.
1t was stated by B. VI. Jewell, presi-
dent Of the railway employees department
OF the American Federation Of Labor
however, that If the brotherhoods go out
1t will be impossible to hold the men Of
the shop crafts and other federation
unions in line. They may not Join with
the brotherhoods in the actual conduct
OF the strike, but they will strike, it was
declared, even if they keep the machinery
for conducting the strike entirely in their
own hands.
Settlement with the brotherhoods alone
will not avert trouble on the railroads"
Z. H. Cradle Of Detroit, Mich, president
of the United Brotherhood Of Shop Labor
ers and Maintenance of Way Employees,
representing 100000 workers, declared here
today.
The other railroad unions must be
reckoned with before there is peace Rep
resenting more than 1000, 900 Of the 2. 5OO,-
900 organized railroad workers they are
as determined as the brotherhoods that
there shall be no more wage cuts and
that there shall be a proper revision of
working rules.
Unless they are taken into considera-
ton, a railroad strike is inevitable
whether It comes Oct 30 or some other
date. They mean business-the other
railroad unions-and If they once call
strike, they will go through with 1t until
their demands are granted. They can
cripple the railroads just as effectively
II the brotherhOOds do not join them
Cradle said many things would have
to be cleared up and considered" before
his union acts to join the strike program
Of the brotherhoods.
1--WE want to know exactly where we
are going and why" he said
Like the othex>. union officials, Cradle
expressed doubt as to whether the re-
naming railroad workers can be held
in line If the Brotherhoods once walk
out.
Cradle reiterated the charge made yes
terday that the Erie Railroad already
had instituted a wage cut on common
labor from 1914 to 30 cents an hour and
said he would take the question to the
labor board.
Information Of the cut reached me
Saturday morning" he said, "and I at
once started preparing 10 take the mat
ter before the board"
It was reported in labor circles that
the Erie had avoided direct responsible
ity for the cut by contracting out the
section work, the contractors paying the
men at the reduced rate of 80 cents
This will be taken before the labor board
in either case, Cradle said.
Vie
Brotherhood OF Maintenance of Way En-
ployes, declared that any action toy, ara
n compromise taken by the big four"
hrOtherhoods, would not necessarily affect
the federation unions. He emphasized the
point already made by other union lead
ers that the federation unions were
standing on their own feet" in the
present crisis.
The Brotherhood Of Stationary Fire
men and Oilers has convened, the first
OF the federation unions to hold meetings
The Brotherhood OF Railway Clerks,
freight handlers express and station en-
ployes, is scheduled to meet tomorrow
The Brotherhood of Railway Telegraph
ers and half dozen other federation
unions will hold meetings during this
week.
These meetings viii decide the attitude
OF the fndixddual unions toward a strike.
On Sunday a general meeting of the
leads or the federation unions will be
held at which the action taken by the
individual unions will be poIIed. This
meeting, 1t Is expected, VIII decide final
" what the attitude of the federation
unions is to be.
With the roads included in groups one
and two Of the progressive" strike plans
OF the brotherhoods announcer, the list of
roads In group three also became known
today. They are:
Minneapolis st. Louis; Burlington
system Chesapeake & Ohio; New York
Central Lines; Boston & Albany; Balti-
more 9 Ohio; Western Pacific; Denver