Arizona republican., 1921-10-24
THREE E-FOURTHS OF RAILWAY EMPLOYES
 REFUSE TO STRIKE
OFFICIALS OF NINE MAJOR RAIL UNIONS VOTE NOT TO STRIKE PEND ING LABOR BOARD DECISION ON WORKING AGREEMENTS.
rRepubIIcan AZ. Leased wIre1

CHICAGO, oct. 23.-The prospee- tive rail strike, scheduled for October 30, was limited to approximately one fourth of the nations railroad em ployes when officials of the Brother hood of Railway and Steamship Clerks. Freight Handlers. Express and Station Employees, representing 350 1000 men, voted not to authorize walkout by their memberB for the present.
 The action increased the number of major rail unions which have voted not to strike to nine and the number of railroad employees bound by such action to about three-fourths of the country's total of approximately 2,O0O, ,0O0
 The vote was taken in a meeting tonight in which some officials at first favored a walk out in protest of recent wage cuts. They finally swung over to a mo strike" now pol icy. but the question of quitting work will be taken up again after the labor board renders decision on rules and working conditions.
 Tonight's action by the clerks left the signal men and the telegraphers the only organizations in the eleven ssstandard'' rail unions which may join the conductors. firemen, engi- neers, trainmen and switcbmen in the strike they have called.
 The telegraphers tentatively have aligned themselves with the pig five,'' but officials of this union said tonight that the decision might be changed before October 30. The slg- nal men have not yet voted.
 When the official statement an nouncing the clerks action said everything had been harmonious in the meeting. individual members de- clared the decision had been made only after a vigorous debate. The turning point in the debate came. II was said when the officials an nounced that they, like the leaders of the other standard" unions. had not been able to persuade the brother hoods and the switchmen to agree 10 support them throughout the pro- posed strike When it was announced that the brotherhoods had informed the officials that their men would re- turn to work when their personal grievances had been settled. regard less of the action of other striking unions. the sentiment swung to the no strike plan. 1t was said.
 Having decided to keep thelr mer at work for the present at least, des- nite the overwhelming vote cast leaders of most of the eleven stand ard,' rail unions tonight were golns home to communicate to thelr iol- lowers the decision not to Joln ths 'big five"
 Tine last of tte series of meetings of these unions was held py siaho si officers of the clerks organization The signalmen, however. are eX- nected 10 call a meeting of executives .ooo +o take action
 strike ballot is being taken aInons tbe 14.O0O organized signal men, tnt ballot simply asking that the o1Hclais he authorized to take what actlor they deem necessary to protect the interest of the men.
 This ballot probably will be fin ished by Wednesday, D. w. Helt president. said.
 Action of eight of these unions, which are affiliated with the Ameri- can Federal ton of Labor, whereas the big four brotherhoods are indepen- dent. in deciding not to walk out, nrobabIy would affect any action to he taken by the signal men, MT. Helt said.
 we feel the same way as the shop crafts-that a strike now on a wage question alone may not be advisable and that one of the most important things to be considered is rules and working conditions.
 It was intimated by labor board members that the decision on rules and working conditions will not be forthcoming until after October 30 the date set for the proposed strike
 Members let it be known that al decisions of questions, on which there might be a strike will be withheld until after that date, explaining thai in n.that way it was hoped the walkoui would be averted, as the men have been ordered not to strike until after Wednesdays hearing.
 The board announced that it was summoning 400 general shairmen oi the unions affected as well as thu
 CContinued on Page Two)