The New York herald., 1921-10-23
Inside Workers Lay Selfish
ness to BrOtherhOOds in
WalkOut Plans.
FEAR DESERTION LATER
Operating Trainmen Would
Not Promise to Defend
Allies in Battle.
KEY MEN VOTE TO GO OUT
Labor Board VIII Decide OH
Course With Defiant Men
Striking in Texas.
KEY MEN VOTE TO Go OUT
Ev the Associated Press.

~ tNe ASSoctuteu PTcSs.
CHICAGO. Oct. 22.--Officials OF
unions with more than half of the
rail employees of the nation in their
membership announced tonight that
their men would not be authorized to
join the big Five" organizations in
the strike called for October 80 in
( protest of wage cuts.
+ The announcements came from eigh,
OF the eleven standard" rail unions
which for a week had been withhold
ing their final strike decisions, al.
though in most OF them the members
had voted overwhelmingly to quit
work rather than accept the recent
121a per cent. wage reductions au.
thorized by the United States Rail.
road Labor Board.
Only one of these eleven groups
now is determined to stand by the
big Five" 1t was announced. bu:
two others have not yet taken final
action.
Following announcement by heads
of the six shop crafts organizations.
controlling 10000 men, that they
would not sanction walkout. the
leaders of the 375,00O maintenance
OF way employees and Of the 75,000
stationary firemen at an executive
meeting voted to withdraw their au.
! thorization OF walkout leaving
| only the $4,000 railroad telegraphers
positively with the big Five" Chief.
tains of the $4,000 clerks will make
their decision tomorrow. and the
signalmen, $4,000 strong, also are yet
to act.
Clerks Not Likely to Quft.
Officials of the clerks said tonight
that they probably would not autho.-
ize a strike at their meeting scheL-
uled tomorrow. thus indicating.
union leaders said, that a strike. II it
materialized. would affect less than
one-fourth OF the country's railroad
employees, being confined to the
switchmen, the conductors. the fire.
men, the engineers, the trainmen and
the telegraphers. The organizations
which decided not to join an immedi-
ate walkout will take new strike
votes after the expected labor board
decision in regard to rules and work
ing conditions. IL was said.
series Of rapid fire developments
in the crisis found tonight walkout
actually beginning on one road. de-
spite the fact that the railroad situa-
ton was declared by both union and
carrier heads to be in statu quo i'm
compliance with United states Rail-
road Labor Board order.
The first strike began at noon. on
the international and Great Northern
Texas line. where 600 trainrnen
started a walkout, which union leaders
declared would be 100 per cent. effec-
tive among members OF the organiza-
tion-although officials of the road in
sisted only freight service would be
impaired
Leaders Of the Federated ehon
Crafts announced here with bouhIike
effect that their mon. numbering one
fourth OF the country's rail workers
would not be authorized to take part
in the proposed walkout October 30
This action was said by union men ~
preclude the likelihood of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor taking any
great part in a rail strike. for the
shop crafts arc members OF this Or
ganization and the Biz Four brother
hoods. which first announced strike
movement. are not
Tefcgraphcrs Ready 60 Go Ont.
Almost simultaneously. however. The,
general chairmen OF the order of Rar-
road Telegraphcrs. numbering $4,000
men. whose work was said by the
union chiefs 10 be essential 20 the con
tinuance Of transportation. announced
that these workers would he called out
with the big Five"--the trainmen.
the switchmen. the conductors. the
firemen and the engineers
Tho action OF the shop crafts was
declared by many union heads to be
the most significant since the first
strike orders by the big Five" were
sent out and followed desperate cam
paign Of missionary work during the
week by the leaders to prevent
walkout Of these men after they had