Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-24
Action of Railroad Clerks
Reduces Supporters to
100000 Men
OFFICIALS HOPEFUL
Labor Board May Delay Decision on
Rules Until After October 30
Report Expected Soon.

Chicago, Oct. 24.-The prospec-
tive rail strike scheduled for Octo-
Der 80 was limited to approximately
one-fourth Of the nations railroad
employees when officials of the Broth
erhood of Railway and Steamship
Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express
and Station Employees, representing
350,OOO men, voted last night to au-
thorize a walkout by their members
for the time being.
This action increased the number
of major rail unions which have vo-
ted not to strike to nine and the
number of railroad emloyes bound
by such action to about three
fourths of the country's total OF
about 100000.
The vote was taken in a meeting
which lasted several hours and IN
which some Of the officials at first
favored walkout October 80 IN pro-
test of recent wage cuts. These OF
ficialss finally swung over to no
strike-now" policy, but the question
Of quitting work will be taken up
again the Labor Board renders a
decision on the rules and working
conditions questions now before IT..
Last nights by the clerks left
the signamen and the telegraphera
the only organization in the II "stan
dard" rail unions, which may JON
the conductors, firemen, engineers,
trainmen and switchmen in the
strike they have called.
The telegraphers tentativelIy y have
aligned Themselves with the "bl2
five" but officials might be changed
before the strike date arrives. The
sienalmen have not yet voted.
While no official announcement was
made by the Labor Board, IL wax i'i-
itrnated by members that the decis-.
ion on rules and working conditions
will not be forthcoming until alter
October 80, the date set for the pro-
posed strike by the ''big five"
Members let it become known tnat
all decisions on questions on Wnlch
there might be strike will De "ltn'
held until after that date, explaining
that in that way it was hoped the
walkout would be averted, as the
men have been ordered by the board
not to strike until after the hearing
of rail and union chiefs which starts
Wednesday.
The board announced last night
that it was summoning 1.4OO gene,
raj chairmen OF the unions affected
as well as the presidents. Inc ses,
, sions will be open to the public. and
large attendance is expected.
Railroad officials expressed the be.
lief last night that the backbone OF
the proposed strike was broken
when a majority of the standard un-
ions. which control most OF the rail
road employees, decided not TO strike
October 80. Although strike would
affect all train service men, ottlclais
said that service would not be I'M
naired for more than day or two
and that these men would be quickly
replaced.
the fremont and Gulf Railway Co.,
= 67-mile line in Louisiana, which
recentlv installed the open shop.
would be brought to the attention
of the Labor Board again BY the
unions caused interest among board
members when they were shown
the dispatches from Cleveland to
that effect.
The board members said they con-
e;dared that matter settled, for, after
recently ordering the open-shop an,
nouncement annulled, they received
world that the 80 employees were
satisfied and that there was nc nc
dispute. The board then witndrew
the jurisdiction it had assumed, eS-
planning that it could not act ohleSS
there was dispute.