The New York herald., 1921-07-03
DAVIS MAY MEDIATE
RAILWAY WAGE CUTS
Labor Secretary Accepts Invi-
tation to Confer With
Union Heads.
STRIKE TALK SUBSIDIES
Firm Stand of Big Four
Points Way to Compro-
mise With Roads.
STRIKE TALK SUBSIDIES

Special Despatch TO THE New YORK HERALD
CHICAGO, June 2.-Secretary of Labor
James J. Davis Is expected to come to
Chicago for a conference with leaders
of railway Employed unions looking
toward mediation on his part In the
present controversy between the work.
ers and the roads over the wage re-
duction order of the United States
Railway Labor Board. effective yester-
day.
Mr.. Davis now is at Mooseheart,
where officers Of the Loyal Order of
Moose. elected yesterday. were to be
installed to-day. Secretary Davis Is
an officer Of the fraternal organiza-
ton.
While on his way to Chicago this
morning he was approached by dele
cation Of railway union officers. He
assured them that if called he would
be glad TO 90 to Chicago for the pur-
pose of considering how mediation
may be effected.
way Board as arbit.r Of railroad labor
disputes, with provisional acceptance
Of its predetermined" wage cut. and
return to the old fashioned method of
direct negotiations with the roads OH
wages and working conditions. was the
broad programme tabsn up by execu-
lives Of the sixteen labor orga nixations
assembled to-day for their second con-
ference.
Would Eliminate Board.
A survey of opinion of many leading
union men disclosed general dissatisfac-
tion of rail workers over the Labor
Board s decision and n determination to
work out plan that will eliminate the
board as a factor in settling affairs be-
tween railroad managements and their
employees.
At the meeting Of the sixteen railroad
labor leaders 1t Ia said an ultimatum
VIII be prepared for presentation to the
American Association of Railroad Ex-
eoutiwes. through Thomas Dewitt Guy
Ter. chairman, demanding a review of
the boards decision cutting wages IL
per cent. and an immediate conference
with the organization leaders on rules
and working conditions all over the
country
The Labor Board made its wage cut
decision without having all the facts
before 1t upon which to base just and
reasonable decision on wages" said one
executive The award of July, 1920.
was based on the cost OF living six
months previous to the date Of the de-
cision; that was December. 1919. A II
per cent. increase In the cost of living
was entirely ignored by the board in its
decision last year.
This year tho board made a decision
based on the cost OF living six months
ago After Its decision was made the
Government statistics appeared Friday
showing that the cost OF living IL Just
where 1t was In December, 1919. There
should have been no wage cut there
fore"
Would BE had Time 10 strike.
There was less strike talk noticeable
than when the 1000 union chiefs met
yesterday In their first sessions. The
anu-strike influence of the big four
is said to have Gained Representatives
Of unions who were most talkative about
striking.
For one thing. the cooler heads at
the conference insist that now, at a
time of widespread unemployment,
would be a badly selected time TO strike.
They also believe that even though the
transportation act creating the wage
board, provides that the board cannot
reconsider its decisions. II would be
possible for the men to negotiate with
the separate railway managements a
cut of from to 5 cents an hour for
workers at the Pullman car shops, the
same reduction ordered for the railway
shopu1en. heCarne affective fo-day