Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-24

pectitve rail strike, scheduled
approximately one-fourth of
when officials of the Brother
Clerks, Freight Handlers, Exp
resenting 100000 men. voted
their members for the time b
The action increased the nu
have voted not to strike now |
road employees bound by such
the country's total Of approxi1
The vote was taken in meeting
Sunday which lasted several hours and
in which some of the officials at first
favored walkout October 80 in pro-
test of recent wage cuts. These Of
ificials finally swung over to mo
strike now" policy, but the question Of
quitting work will be taken up again
latter the labor board renders a de-
cision on rules and working conditions,
Questions now before it.
| Only Two For Strike
i Sunday nights action by the clerks
left the signalmen and telegraphers the
only organizations in the II standard
rail unions which may join the conduct
lors, flremen, engineers, trainmen and
switchmen in the strike they have call
led.
The telegraphers tentatively have
aligned themselves with the big five
but officials of this union said Sunday
Ataat. the decision might be cfanged be-
fore the strike date arrives. The sig
nalmen have not vet lvoted.
While the official statement an
bouncing the clerks action said that
everything had been harmonious in
the meeting individual officials declared
tie decision had been only after a Wig
|orous debate. 1t was pointed out by
these officials that the clerks are more
closely related in their work to the
members of the big four brotherhoods
than are any of the other union men
and that consequently many of them
thought they should support the big
four in its strike call.
The turning point of the debate came
when it was said the officials an
nounced that they like the leaders of
the other standard unions had not
Deen able to persuade the brotherhoods
ana the switchmen to agree to sup
port them through the proposed strike.
When 1T was announced that the broth
erhoOds had informed the officials that
their men would return to work when
their personal grievances had been
settled regardless of the action Of other
striking unions the sentiment SWING tn
the no-strike plan it was said by those
present at the meeting.
Inc statement announced the clerks
action was almost the same, word for
word. as the one yesterday from the fed
Grated shop crafts announcing that
tnelr men would not be authorized to
s!rlke. 81: &c pointed out that the present
lis not the time to strike"
Having finally decided to keen their
men on the job for the time being at
least, despite the overwhelming vote
cast, leaders Of majority of the ii |
stadard" rail unions Sunday night |
were on their way home to communi-
cate to their followers the decision not |
to join the "big five" in the walkout
scheduled for October 80.
The last of the series Of meetings of |
these unions which took up most Of !
the week. was held when the grand Of |
llcers Of the clerks organization rem. |
dered their decision. The signamen,
however. are expected to call meeting |
DI executives within few days to take |
strike action, this organization being
u.
.uss the walkout question.
Take Strike Ballot.
A strike ballot now is being taken
,mong the 14,OOO organized signalmen.
ne ballot being general in terms and
simply asking that the officials be
authorized to take what action they
ieem necessary to protect the interests
II their men.
This ballot probably will be finished
y next Wednesday, D. w. Helt, presi-
lent of the union. said Sunday. All
.halrmen have been notified to be
'eady to come here on short notice
dr. Hclt said.
The action of nine of these unions.
which are affiliated with the American
federation of Labor whereas the big
our brOtherhoods are independent, in
leciding not to walk out and thus maxi
ng It unlikely that strike will be
olned hy more than one-fourth of the
ountry's railroad employees. probably
Y the signalmen. Mr.. Helt said.
We feel the same way as the shon
rafts--that strike now on a wage !,
nestion alone may not be advisable
nd that one of the most imnOrtnnt
hings to be considered is rules and
working conditions. The labor hoard
: expected to rule on that question
hortly." sse'oA
While no official announcement was
lade by the labor board, IL was INIT.
lated by members that the decision
n rules and working conditions will
ot be Forthcoming, until after Octo-i
err 80. the date set for the proposed
trike BY the big five +
Want Boards Aotloa u
Members let it become known that
here might be strike win be with I
ED until after that date, explaining 4
hat in that way it was hoped the. !,
'alkout would be aperted n the i,lelt.I i
ave been ordered by the board not
\ rArikn until rfkrr Ahn# hnsss1sssss "a !