The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-01
ACCEPT WAGE CUT.
INDICATION now
Brotherhoods May Make Their
Acceptance ssInformai." ii
Big Unions Now Hold Final
Decision ON Strike.
REDUCED PAY STARTS TODAY
Majority of 100000 Railroad
Workers Are Affected. 4
Federal Boards 12 Per Cent Get
Is Effective Today. j

Federal Boards IL Per Cent Cut
Is Effective Today. il
Chicago. July First Indication
that the "big four" brotherhoods |
would accept the railway wage cuts,
thus averting a nationwide strike on
rail lines, was given here today by II. 4
M. Daugherty, vice grand chief of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engt-
neers. He indicated the brotherhcods
might informally" accept the wage
reductions.
Daugherty declared that If the s'set
together session of leaders of the
sixteen "big" rail unions here today
voted against acceptance, the reduc-s
tions would be put up to a "referen-
dunn" in the '.big four brotherhoods<
The referendum in effect would be
a strike vote.
Big Four Holds Lead
The brotherhoods. according to
Daugherty. considered the "infor-
mali acceptance of the wage cuts as
the other twelve affiliated unions.
The general feeling of todays ssget
together meeting, he added. would
influence the big four"
The men, meanwhile, are back at
work at a IL per cent reductisa in
wages and the common laborers 1T a
20 per cent cut. The greatest dissatis-
faction, it was learned, exists ameng
the common laborers. E. F. Cabs,
president of the Maintenance OF Way
Men, announced his union had voted
heavily nonacceptance of the reduce
TONS The shop craftsmen are also
| Overwhelmingly opposed to acceptance
| of the cuts.
| Five VIII Decide.
Final decision whether the railway
employees of the country shall accsps
or reject the wage decrease which
to a committee of five representing
the sixteen railroad unions.
| Executives of the union reached
| this decision today and instructed tho
committee to receive reports from the
various group meeting now In, Chi
cago and formulate general rules TO
| the union membership.
4 The committee is composed OF y.
| NJ. Jewell, president OF the railway
| employees department Of the Ameri-
| can federation of labor; E. H. Fitx-
gerald, president OF the Brotherhood
of railway and steamship clerks,
freight handlers, express and station
! employees; L. E. Sheppard, president
OF the order Of railway conductors;I
z. j. Manion. president OF the order
!! Krider. president n a u o n a I
! Brotherhood of firemen and oilers.
The big four brotherhood. after 4
short session at which the wage situ-
1 alton was outlined, separated, the en-
gineers, firemen, conductors, and
| trainmen going into separate zaieet1
ings to consider the wage cut. Ths
j four groups will report back to q
| general session at 10 o'clock tomor-
| row morning.
! Ninety-five per cent OF the mem-
beB of the International Broth-
erhood of Firemen and Oilers
have voted against accepting the
/ wage cut ordered by the United States
railroad labor board on all roads eff
fective today. Timothy Healy. inter-
nouncement today, as 1900 union
leaders gathered here to pass on tho
order.
i wage Cut in Effect.
AS a majority of the 1906
900 railway workers thruout the
country reported for work to-
day at reduced wages. their repreAn-
tatives, 1000 strong, were assembled
in Chicago for conferences regarding
the 2 per cent wage siashes that are
relied upon to keep the transportation
wheels turning.
i The union leaders gathered here
are about as taikatiye as CLAIMS. In
no quarter is loud talk heard OF
strike" The general verdict of the
delegates appear. to be: "Its up to
the men,
Railroad Chiefs Not Worried.
Railway officials do not appear td
. be worried by prospects OF strikSl
They pointed out today that the uBioH
leaders are cognizant of the INDUSTRIAL
depression thruout the country ana
that they would hesitate long before
. recommending any action that would
swell the rank of Jobless.
In the event that the railway labor
heads should advise their men to walk
out, subject to a referendum vote,
there would be no immediate action
since weeks would be required to
compile the vote in many of the
unions which as yet have not regis
tered their opinion regarding the
United States railway labor boards
wage cut decision.
Won't Order Waik-Out.
The executive board OF the shor
lcrafts union, which already has voted
} down the slash, has decided not to or.
der a wa1kout at present, but will asl
the railway board to reconsider Its ac.
, ton and to hear new evidence. Ths
: leaders of this union, the largest 81
! all the railway workers organizations
. have indicated that a 5 per cent waEt
{ cut might be acceptable.
: Conferences among the united lead
a ers were on in earnest
FIFTH JURY Is DEADLOCKYED