The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-19
U. S.LABOR BOARD
MAY take ACTION
TO ASSIST ROADS
Administration Plan Goes Be-
fore Tribunal.
Members Return From Confer
ence With the President.
IN EFFOBT TO AVERT STRIKE
Final Action Is Not Expected
Before Next Friday.
Freight Rate Reductions To Be
Taken Up by Board.
IN EFFORT TO AVERT STRIKE
Final Action Is Not Expected
Before Next Friday.
(By the Associated Press.)

Chicago, Oct 19.-Whether the
United States railroad labor board
shall step into the role of mediator
or confine it's activities to pointing
out the course which the railroads
of the country and their employees are
expected to follow as the result of the
labor board decisions handed down
under the transportation act, was the
vital question before the federal body
this afternoon. With every member
present Chairman Barton laid the ad-
ministration wishes before the board
which will determine program for
presentation at the conference with
railroad brotherhood chiefs here to-
morrow. Chairman Barton and the
other two members of the public
group, G. W. W. Hanger, and Ben W.
Hooper returned last night from
Washington where they conferred
with President Harding, the interstate
commerce commission and Attorney
General Daugherty. Chairman Bar
ton brought the White House express
sion of a desire ito do everything" to
avert strike.
Boards First Summons.
The board has never before sum
moned parties to a controversy in an
effort to mediate in private confer
ence. A number of cases have been
so handled at the request of the dis
putants 1t was pointed out that altho
the transportation act did not spe-
officially contemplate mediation of diff
ferences the board could. being fed
eral body, take any steps it thought
advisable to save the country distress
resulting from a rail tieup.
On the other hand the act gives the
board authority to summon parties to
a decision which the board has reason
to believe has been violated. The first
instance of such a citation will be
heard tomorrow morning by cOinci-
denoe when the Pennsylvania is to
appear for the board to determine if
that road has violated an order to
hold certain employees elections. The
brotherhoods' strike order, if it actual
ly eliminates in walk out. would be-
come a violation of board decision in
the opinion of several members of the
board. altho that point has never been
thOrOly tested.
Final Action Friday.
Developments in the possibility of a
strike order by others of the sixteen
the five train service bodies were seen
today in n call for assembling tomor-
row of the conference committee of
100 of the railway employees depart
ment American Federation of Labor.
This committee has full power to or
der a strike of the six shop crafts No
final action was expected, however,
before Friday. according to B. NJ.
Jewell. president of the department
The first of a series of conferences
in Chicago at which representatives of
all factions in the railroad strike situ-
alton may decide the outcome of the
strike call issued by the big four
brotherhoods for October 80 began
here today to continue over the week
end.
Three group meetings are sched-
Executives of the shopmen,
maintenance OF way workers, clerks,
telegraphers and others meet today,
tomorrow, Friday and Sunday to de-
eide their attitude toward the an
nounced strike of the train service em-
ployes with indications of final de-
cision al Joint conference Sunday.
2-Brotherhood leaders are on their
way here to hear the governments at
titude thru the railroad labor board
tomorrow
s-Railroad executives of the CEN
tral division meet Friday in Chicago
to discuss all phases of the strike sit
uatio while executives of other divi-
sions meet simultaneously in their
own regions.
To Discuss Freight Rates.
Freight rate reductions approXi-
mately equivalent to the IL per cent
wage reduction ordered last July l
by the railroad labor board, were in
tiOn the labor board will propose with
the backing of the administration to
avert the strike.
T understand" said Commissioner
Ben w. Hooper n member of the pub
lie group of the labor board, that the
interstate commerce commission has
Continued on Page Two)