Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-10-26
R. R. STRIKE Farley
OPENS IN CHICAGO;
HOPE TO AVERT T|E-UP
Public Hearing in Chicago to
Affect Peaceful Settlement
of Disputes
TO HEAR GRIEVANCES
Roads Reiterate Intentions of
Applying Further Reduc-
tons of Wages and Rates

CHICAGO. Oct. 26.-(By The As
sociated Press).-Ben w, Hooper,
member of the United States Rail-
road Labor Board, conducting the
hearing called by the board to in
vestigate the threatened labor rail-
road strike today called w. c. Lee,
president of the trainmen. to the
stand and questioned him concern
ing the strike order.
Lee told how the strike vote was
taken and the walkout ordered. He
told the board he withdrew from
the joint meeting of the other unions
because their strike resolution COW
cred questions he did not think were
involved.
at took the position" Lee said,
that for once in my life, at least,
1 wanted to tell the truth to my
men about the facts as 1 saw them"
Lee read into the records, a cir
cular letter sent to his men while
they were voting on the strike in
which he pointed out hat wages
must come down and that four mil
lion unemployed men were seeking
jobs.
Mr.. Lee declared the differences
between himself and the other un-
ions arose when he insisted on a
"clean cut statement" pointing out
there was no possibility OF reopen
ing negotiations with the roads us
Ing the strike vote as a club because
The labor board. and not the roads.
had ordered the wage cut"
At IL o'clock the board recessed
until 2 o'clock.
Lee has not completed his state
ment.
Judge Barton predicted the hear
ing would be completed by Thurs
day noon.
On the eve Of the meeting the
board announced that the brother
hoods complaints. largely o~verruled
the working conditions and must be
settled before the additional ten per
cent wage cut proposed by the reads
could be considered. Union leaders
have asserted that it's further reduce
tons bulked largely in their griev-
ances.
At the same time a committee of
the Association of Railway Execu-
tives. reiterated it's intention of ap-
plying for further reductions in
wages in order that they might fur
Their reduce rates.
Roll call of the 600 general chair
men of the brotherhoods vas plan
ned by the board as the opening &C
ton Of the conference today. and
Chairman R. NJ. Barton was to read
a statement outlining the questions
TO be considered. The remainder of
the session will be arranged accord
ing to developments.
Unless extended debate developed
Unexpectedly it was said early to-
day the conference may be closed to-
night.
Several of the railroad executives
here for the meeting have booked
reservations out of Chicago for to-
night. Many it is understood, hold
the opinion that the controversy
leading up to the strike call is a dis
pute between the unions and the
board over the twelve per cent wage
cut of July /, with which executives
are not directly concerned.
1t was also rumored that the
brotherhoods. unless a satisfactory
settlement is reached by Thursday
night, will bolt the conference, SO
that their general chairmen may
return to their homes TO take charge
of the strike situation next Sunday
morning.
General Chairmen of the engineers
will not be present at the meeting.
1t was said. since the power to re-
woke the strike call rests with the
executive committee.