Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-29
RA|LROADERS SPLIT
ON STRIKE BALLOTS
400, 900 Union Men to Vote on
Wage Board Reduction of
July 1.

Cleveland. Aug. 2s.-Strike ballots
for expressing acceptance or rejce-
ton of the s4oo.ooo.0o0 wage reduc-
ton ordered by the Railroad Labor
Board and effective on July / last
were mailed last night to the 400 900
members OF the "Big Four" Brother
hoods and the switchmen's Union of
North America.
The ballots revealed difference of
opinion among the chief executives
of the FIVE organizations, the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, Bro
therhood Of Locomotive Ffremen and
Enginemen, Order of Railway Con
ductors and the Switchmen using a
Joint ballot while the brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen sent out a separate
ballot
The Trainmen's ballot states that II
had been the intention of all the or
CARNATIONS 10 use joint ballot, but
that this was impossible because the
ballot adopted by the other organiza-
tions did not, in our opinion. con-.
tain an impartial and unbiased re-
cital OF ali that Is involved. nor did
II convey the assurance that the wish
es Of the men. II against working FOR
reduced wages. would determine the
question, and that they would be
permitted to leave the service"
The joint ballot stated that II the
membership vote was to reject the
wage reduction which became effec-
tive on July l. 1921. st is TO be under
stood that the men will be permitted
TO withdraw from the service OF their
respective companies. unless salts
factory settlement can be reached
under the laws OF the organization"
The proposition which confronts
our members anS others said the
Trainmenis ballot. carries with IL an
attempt TO reverse the decision OF tho
United States Railroad Labor Board
on thes wage reduction now in effect
since July i or else persuade or compel
the railroad companies TO reinstItute
wage rates that the Labor Board de-
cided should re reduced.
Many General Chairman at tho
Chicago meeting Con July 81 favored
an immediate vote OF the members on
the wage cut, and held that IL the
necessary ma jority OF the membership
voted 10 leave the service strike
should be called forthwith. in an effort
70 force a restoration Of the rates that
were in effect on June 30,192I.
'All members and others are here
by notified that II the membership
vote is, in lawful necessary majority.
TO leave the service rather than con-
unue service under the reduced wages
now IN effect. they will on any or an
lines where such vote is secured with
the sanction of the General Griey-
alce ComEnittee) be given necessary
authority by the President of the
Grand Lodge. The President of the
Grand Lodge VIII not with the in
formation given above) undertake to
prevent the wishes of the men. as ex-
pressed in their ballot, from being adj
hered to-"
The number of active members Of
the five organizations to whom ballots
We're mailed was estimated at $50. 900
trainmen. li5,00o firemen, 10000 en-
ganeeers, 10000 conductors and $4,000
switchmen. In addition, the wage re-
duction had been previously voted up-
on by the six shop crafts OF the Rail-
way Employees Department of the
American Federation OF Labor AL
though this vote was taken some time
ago. the result has not been publicly
announced, but has been understood
to be largely against the acceptance
Of the wage reductions.
Both strike ballots recounted the ne
gotistions leading up to the wage in
creases. estimated as totalling $780,
100000. granted by the Railway Labor
Board on July 20, 1920.