New-York tribune., 1921-10-28
Misleading Propaganda
of Railroads Blamed
for Popular Idea They
Fought the Government
Photographers Also
Join in Decision.
Union Action Follows g
Labor Board Warning.
1t Would Meet Crisis
With 'Ungloved Hands

CHICAGO, Oct. 27 (By The As.
sociated Press The rail striko
scheduled for October 80 was averted
tonight, when leaders Of the switch
men, trainmen, conductors, engi.
neers and firemen at joint meeting
adopted resolutions withdrawing
authorization Of a walk-out, and off j.
cials of the railroad telegraphers' or.
ganization announced they woulJ
take similar action. These were the
only unions which had authorized I:
strike.
The vote calling off the strike wa
unanimous by organizations, w. G
Lee, president of the Brotherhood @
Railroad Trainmen, announced. Th
official wording of the resolution
adopted was that the 'strike be de
clared not effective"
Firemen Oppose Yielding
The vote in the individual union
was unusually close, however. tn
flremen particularly holding length
arguments before agreeing to car
collation. of the strike order, tn.
labor chieftains said. In some @
the groups the ballot was describe
as the closest in history on a sim
liar question" All of the difference
were ironed out by the differen
unions, however, and the final show
down found all of them casting theil
ballots for mo strike"
In discussing the resolution annnr.
ng the strike orders, the union pres
dents declared that its outstandinr
feature was that it "was based on tn
statements made to the unions by Be
Hooper, of the board, that wage reduc
tlons would not be considered by tn
board for any employees until the rule
and working conditions for those em
ployees had been settled"
The chieftains pointed out that tho
strike absolutely was off," and that
walk-out could not now be called uut
a new vote had been taken.
we are not making any plans nov
1or new vote" MIR. Lee said.
Feared Public Opinion
L. E. Sheppard, president of the Or
der of Railway Conductors, said tn
unions had decided to call off tn,
strike because OF 1.-The growing publ
against the Labor Board, and conse
quently the government, and no.
against the railroads.
1T was evident also that the entire
Washington Administration was op
posed to US and that we have hac
little chance of gaining our object
ives" said Mr.. Sheppard.
We called this strike to gain Ger
tain rights to which our men wero
entitled" MIR. Sheppard told the CORE
spondent.
ut soon became evident. howeve1
that the roads were succeeding in the
misleading propaganda to the effec
that we really would be striking agains /;
the government.
This railroad propaganda found IL
way to the United States Railroad Labor
Board. This government agency told u 9
tnat It would look on strike as agains z
~ and the government and not arains
the roads, and that the full force 0
the government would be brought t.
bear against US if we walked out Ur
oer sucn clrcum stances there was moth
ing to do but annul our orders fo ;
the October 80 walkout."
Lee Announces Decision
Inc first announcement of the sf
ecutives' action was made bv Mr. Lee
Rushing to the floor below the hote
meeting room. where dozens of news
paper reporters were con2regated. hs
smilIngly shouted:
The strike is off. boys, but I've
only got one copy of the resolution
and I'll show that TO you to-morrovn
All of the union men were sm;,,ne.
as they came out and many Of ther
locnlarly pushed and showed each other
down the stairs. To ali queries mos
CT them merely replied:
Its all settled. See you tomorrow.
Inc code messages calling off the
strike, arranged in advance, will b.
sent out tomorrow morning. the unior
heads said A code word will be ser
TO each general chairman of the union
and he will in turn forward the order
TO each OF the subordinate Official
under him.
Union leaders who called off II
railroad strike tonight announce
Ihat the resolution adopted by the
Labor Board pledging that no furthe !
wage reduction petitions for anv ons
group of employees would be cons;a
cred until rules and working cona;.
tons for that group had been settle
was decidedly Instrumental in hr;ns
ing, about the action calling off tSa
walk-out. w
They declared that tnex h.,,.s