The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-10-28
AWAIT RAIL DECISION
rContinnad from Page IL

next Sunday. met with their fiyeNchiefs
today in conferences said to have
been called at the instance of the rail-
road labor board.
The proposition said to have been
made to the railroad employees after
yesterdays public investigation is that
they could call off the strike and in
trust to the labor board adjustment OF
the complaints which led up to the
strike vote.
T. C. Cashen, head of the switchmen,
asserted after yesterdays session OF
the boards Investigation that nothing
had been brought out which would at
feet the strike call.
Members OF the board announced
after the hearing that they would
make known their decision on the
threatened strike, which the railroad
executives say Is in violation Of the
boards wage cut July /, today or to-
morrow.
The brotherhood leaders at the in
vestigatlon yesterday, with the excep-
ton of w. G. Lee of the trainmen,
admitted that the proposed reductions
and changes in rules were as infiuen-
tial in the strike vote as the wage cut
of July /, already in effect.
At the same time I. Dewitt Cuyler,
a chairman of the Association Of Rail
road Executives. told the board that
ncne of the carriers had any intention
of trying to make further changes in
wages or working conditions without
due process through the board.
Hooper In New Peace Move
At S:45 o'clock this morning Ben
w. Hooper, member of the United
States railroad labor board, left his
office for the Masonic Temple, where
president, general chairmen and ex-
ecutive committees OF the five big
unions were in session.
Mr.. Hooper was expected to make
final appeal on behalf OF the govern
meut for calling off the threatened
strike. The boards proposal, it was
reported, is a guarantee that neither
wage cuts nor rules changes will be
considered until all pending cases are
disposed of.
Mr.. Hooper was accompanied by A.
F. Whitney, vice president of the
Their presence led to reports that W..
G. Lee, president of the trainlnen,
was backing the peace move.
Vague Possibilities for Settiesrnt
Mr.. Hooper said before going in
to the meeting room that he was
making the call unofficially ana that
he had. a vague possibility" for set
tlemant in mind, which he would out
line to the Union men. 1T is very
vague, though" he added.
More than 200 union men were as
sembled when the two railroad labor
bosrd members arrived.
The meeting was arranged by Hal
ter L. McNenimen, labor member OF
the board and former official OF the
trainmen's organization, McMenimen,
however, did not accompany Hooper
and Whitney. to the nall.
There has been much discussion in
union and railroad circles rs to-, the
possibility Of the railroad labor
boards putting out an order that the
strike is illegal and ordering it call
ed off,,
Board members would not discuss
the report this forenoon except TO say
no such order had yet been prepared.
Boards Final Ruling.
The union conference was attended
by more than five hundred represen
tatives of the men in the big five or
CARNATIONS. The conference was ex
ecutive and after Mr.. Hooper went in
no one emerged from the room during
the first hour.
The telegraphers were not repre-
sented at this mornings union. confer
ence. ..l
Terms Of the railroad labor boards
final ruling on the strike, If the board
decides one shall be necessary. as dis
cussed Informally by members Of the
board. brought out these salient
!. That the impending walkout must
not be called.
z. That the walkout, II called, will
be in violation Of the transportation
act as it will he in rebellion against
decision Number 147-the July
wage cut made by the board pursuant
to its authority under the act.
Three. That the board will re-
gard the strike. If called for any
other reason than dissatisfaction with
conspiracy to- paralyze transporta-
tation." The board holds it would be
contrary to court decisions: that the
fright to strike" exists only where
the strike called is called upon the
grounds set forth in the strike bal
lots. This refers to statements by
union leaders that while the strike is
not so much in protest against the
July decision they fear that further
reductions In wages and changes IN
working conditions will be made by
the roads.
Four. That members of the "big
FIVE" and Photographers unions remain
at work and rely upon the board to
safeguard their interests from fur
ther enroachments possibly contem-
plated by the roads.
Hooper Summons Thorn
Alfred p. Thorn, counsel for the AS.
ISOLATION of Railway Executives APP
peared at the railroad labor board
offices in response to a call from Mr..
Hooper for a conference, but said he
would call later when he found that
Mr.. Hooper had gone to the union -ex-
ecutives meeting.
The railroad labor board planned to
hold its first meeting at two o'clock
this afternoon. Members discussed
Informally the attitude brought out
at yesterdays hearings questioning
the powers and the authority of the
board. 1t was the opinion Of mem
bers that this attitude would be dis
cussed at the afternoon meeting, un-
less the conference of union execu-
tives this forenoon, pointed way out
Of the strike.
The Board Resolutions
Mr.. Hooper said the only thing he
dasirad m urtnp hofora tho rnoofio0