Evening star., 1921-10-18
Union Conference
at Cleveland
Called Off
TRYING TO AVOID
AN ACTUAL TIE-UP
Jewell Not Included
Among Those Asked
to Conference.
BY the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, October 1S.-TelegramS
summoning the chiefs of the big
four brotherhoods and the Switch
mems Union to a conference with the
United States Railroad Labor Board.
IN an endeavor to forestall an actual
walkout on the nations railroads,
were dispatched to the labor leaders
today.
The conference was called for 2
o'clock Thursday afternoon at the
Labor Board headquarters here.
All of the members of the board
are in the city except the public
group. which has been in conference
with President Harding and the In
terstate Commerce Commission at
Washington. The public members
will reach Chicago late today.
New Proposals Likely.
No outline of what the conference
would discuss was announced. but It
was said that new proposals would
be presented to the labor men in an
effort TO prevent an actual cessation
of work on the roads.
j.. NJ. Jewell. head of the shop
crafts, which comprise six of the
eleven other standard rail organiza-
tions. none of which has yet issued
"a actual strike call, said he had not
been summoned by the board. The
boards first efforts, it was indicated.
would be directed toward those or
GanIzationS which have set strike
we arc going ahead with our plans
FOR "xecutiveS' confcrences. Mr.. Jew,
ell said and We will have reached
At this time there has been absolute
ly no determination of what Will be
done
Executive officials Arriving.
F.Nectivc officials and general chair
men Of IL dozen unions or railroad
employees representing 100000 work.
.'rS began arriving today for confer
euceS beginning tomorrow to deter
lniuc whether they shall follow the
leadership Of the big hVe raliroad
bruth~rhoodS in issuing a strike call.
\ joint conference at the end of the
week is III prospect spirited con-
troscrsy over the attitude of the big
five brotherhoods is Indicated, i'll the
statements of the leaders outside the
big tive group. The train dispatchers
have declared they will not go out
AT this time. the te1egraphers ana
clerks announced their DECISION was
still uniformed and others have IN
dirated the question was still open'
although some of the unions, nota-
bly, the shopmen and maintenance OF
way employees, have authorized a
strike call by d referendum vote.
Jewell still Hopeful.
r. NJ Jewell. president OF the rail-
way employees department of the
American Federation of Labor. de-
cIared today he was still hopeful that
a strike could be averted.
The brotherhood OF railway clerks.
freight handlers, express and station
employes was the latest to issue sum-
mons for Il strike conference. twenty
two grand officers and 200 general chair
men were called to meet here Sunday
by President +. II. Fitzgerald.
Union leaders here were watching
closely the action of the big five con-
ference at Cleveland, representing nearly
half a million train service employees.
Extra Precautions Discussed.
Extra precautions to thwart vandai-
ism and arson in the event OF a rail-
road strike were discussed today at the
opening of the eighth annual meeting
1,f the Railway Fire Protection ASsoca-
ton for a threeday session.
Railroad fires We're reduced In 1920
as compared to 1919. although property
damage increased. probably due to in
fated values. President W. +. Hickey
OF the association declared.