The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-28
Here Is History
 of Euents Prior
 to Strike Call
By Assoeiated Prrss

By Associated Press
 Chicago, October 3T--The decision of tho United States labor board on July 1, authorizing the railroads to reduce wages of their employees an average of lsh per cent was the event in the series which led up to the orders for a general strike by six unions.
 So soon as this decision was ren dered a majority of the rail unions voted overwhelmingly In favor of q strike rather than accept a wage cut, although on some lines, notably the Pennsylvania. there were divisions where groups of workers voted nos to strike.
 The taking of the ballot itself, however. developed some signs of friction among the unions. w. c. Lee, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, sent out a separate ballot to his men when ths other unions included In their bal lots such questions as rules and work ing conditions. MT Lee held that 1t was Illegal to vote on anything but the already authorized wage cut.
 Strike Is Authorised.
 Leaders of the big four brother hoods-trainmen, conductors, engi- neers and firemen--met in Chicago to decide what action should be taken. On October IS it was announced for maliy that walkout beginning Co., tober 30 and extending progressively In four distinct movements until vir- tuaily every road in the country would be covered. had been author ixed. The Switchmens Union of North America Immediately an nounced that 1t would join the Dig feft .9shi A IA ,oIt A 4f,t of tho railway ernploysS departmeI (, Amerinen Federation oAlLabor which IS comprtssd of tt ( shoss lcrsftsvp ions publicly announced thNt he "woui 1 fight tooth and toenap to avert a walkout by the II stanMard unionsf
 Board Takes Hand.
 A few days after the pig five strike call. 4he United States labor board stepped into the situation. The three members of it's public group. who had been summoned 10 Wash ington to confer with President Hard irg. announced their plan to avert the. strlke--no further reduction of wages and immediate reduction of rates by the roads, and acceptance ,f the July l wage decrease by the unions. Both roads and unions In mediately declared the plan impos- sibie Tho board then called the union chiefs into conference at Chicago and, pending this conference the II standard" unions deferred action.
 Assumcs JurisdictiOn.
 Nothing developed at this confer .ence and the board then formally an- 'nounced that 1t "assumed full juris- diction over" the rail crisis and or dered the unions not to strike, pend Ing a board hearing to determine If the transportation act had been vio- lated in the strike activities.
 The executives of the shop crafts representing 500, ,o00 men. announced that they would not authorize d waikout This was the first break. and others followed rapidly, until every one of the 1 standard" unions except the Order of Railway Teleg- raphers, had refused to authorize strike.
 The labor bAard hearing was held yesterday. It adjourned when the unions. at the instigation of the board, requested permission to confer with their chairmen. These questions led up to the big five's final action.
 On last Saturday, however, 6op trainmen on the international and Great Northern began strike. This strike had been authorized previous to the Dig four" strike call. What the settlement there will be is not yet known.