New-York tribune., 1921-10-30
Unions Declaring Them
Without Permission to
Forfeit Protection I'm
der Transportation Act
Power to Rule ON
Disputes Asserted
Law Violated in Recent
Order, but No Action
Is Required Because
1t Had Been Withdrawn
Specie, Dispatch to The rr,nuns

Spec1ft OfSrdfc1 70 Ife lTfo4H9
CHICAGO, Oct. 29.-In state
ment summing up the causes of the
threatened railroad strike the United
States Railroad Labor Board to-day,
in effect, forbade railroad union
labor from striking without the
boards permission, and declared that
all strikers who violated the order
would be classed as outlaws who
voluntarily had removed themselves
from the protection of the trans
portation act. AT the same time the
board congratulates sail parties for
considering the public interest and
averting a national disaster"
The statement labeled Decision
No. 299, is in part as follows:
"The representatives of the car
riers and the representatives Of the
employees have announced their in
tention and purpose to conform to
the law and abide by the orders Of
the board. These facts render it un-
necessary for the board to make any
further orders on or about this mat
ter, and move it to congratulate the
parties directly interested and the
public most vitally and profoundly
interested on this return to indus
trial peace, triumph of the reign OF
law and the escape from the national
disaster"
Aims to Make Rulings Clear
"But at this time, and while the mat
ter is so intensely before the minds
of all. the board deems it expedient and
proper to make its rulings and posi-
tions on some of the points involves
so clear that no ground for any mis-
understanding can hereafter exist.
1. When any changes of wages, con
tracts or rules previously in effect are
contemplated or proposed by either
party conference must be had, as di-
rected by the transportation act, and by
rules or decisions of procedure pro
mulgated by the board, and where
agreements are not reached the dispute
must be brought before this board
and no action taken or change made
until authorized by the board.
J "2. The ordering or authorizing OF
the strike by the organization of en-
ployees parties hereto was violation
of decision number 147 of this board
but said strike order having been with
drawn it is not now necessary for the
| hra ri 70 *ok cfa to h,
matter.
"The board desires now to point out
that such overt acts by either party
tending to and threatening an interrup
| ton of the transportation lines, the
peaceful and uninterrupted operation
| of which is so absolutely necessary TO
the peace, prosperity and safety of tn
entire people, are in themselves, ever
when they do not eliminate in etor-
page OF traffic, a cause and source Of
/ great injury and damage.
Strike Forfcits Rights
"The board further points out for tn"
consideration Of employees interested
that when such action does result IL
strike the organization acting hes
| forfeited its rights and the rights o.
! its members in and to the provisions
and benefits of all contracts thereto
fore existing and the employees
so striking voluntarily have removed
I themselves from the classes entitled
| to appeal to this board for relief md
| protection"
Denial was made to-day by Samuel
FELTON,, chairman of the board of ex-
ecutives. of report that he had sent
out queries to the other executives re-
garding their attitude OIL the new To-
! per cent wage cut.
"Our attitude is still the same" said
! Mr.. FELTON,. I'VE want to make the cub
/ in order to reduce freight rates, and
we shall go right ahead and present
! our application to the board"
! He would not comment on the gener
al understanding that the strike waa
settled through guaranty to the "hig
| FIVE" that the cut would not be granted
/ for dt least d year.
Among other developments of the
! day was report that the railway men
/ intended to test cut the powers Of the
labor board by a court suit. The COR
templated order grows out of an order
issued by the board to the Pennsyi-
\ vania Lines calling upon the officials to
assist in the election OF union repro
sentative to joint conference commit
tee. The railroad officials are lighting
| the joint conference committee and are
understood to. be bent on making the
4 Pennsylvania matter d test.
Texas Strike Called on
The strike of 500 trainmen of the
international & Great Northern Rail-
road, operating in Texas, has been
called off by the general chairman OF
+ the, road, according to telegram "
ceiTed here by w G. Lee, chief of TIE
! Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmsn. /.
before he departed for Cleveland M.
Lee communicated this information TO
members OF shs Labor Board.
The strike Of the traipmen on this
road was authorized, preceding the call
for country wide strike. When tha
big Five" issued the strike call Mr..
Lee allowed the trainmen on this road
to decide for themselves whether they
should strike last Saturday, the ori9i
nal date set, or wait until next Sun
day, when the national strike was to
begin.
Following the recall of strike ordcss
yesterday it was understood that Off.
eials of the tranmen's organization
used their influence to have the Texas
strike declared Off wills hba Tay~a,