The New York herald., 1921-08-10
TIME EXPIRES TO-DAY
Report Officers Will Con-
tinue to Deal With Com
mittees Already Elected.
$4,000 MEN ARE INVOLVED
Strike Reports Met With the
Statement Road Is Prepared
for Trouble.

| PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 9.--No official
announcement was made tonight by
the Pennsylvania Railroad as to what
it intends to do with regard to the
decision of the United States Rail
road Labor Board directing the road
and it's shopmen to hold a new cleo
ton of committees for the purpose of
negotiating working agreements. The
| time fixed for the representatives OF
| the two sides to meet to arrange the
details for the new election expires to-
morrow.
From Chicago to-day came a supple
mentary ruling by the board directing
a secret ballot by the shop employees
to select a committee for negotiation
Of agreements with the roads officials.
The decision which ordered q new elec-
ton of an employees committee and
which cancelled agreements reached
by the road with committee elected
by general vote previously directed
that the name Of the employee voting
should appear on the ballot. The rul-
ing to-day ordered that the conference
directed by the original decision to be
held on or before August 10 should
arrange a plan Of election to insure
"the absolute secrecy Of the ballot"
Operating stan Meets.
The operating staff of the Pennsyl-
vania. headed by w. w. Atterbury. vice.
president in charge Of operations. met
here in the forenoon and discussed the
situation. This was followed by spe-
cial meeting of the board OF directors
in the afternoon. which lasted more than
two hours. Later the operating starr
again met. It was learned that final
decision was reached and it was strongly
intirnated a statement would be given
out tomorrow defining the companys
position.
While no official word came from
those in authority. there were indica-
tions the company would not recede
from the position 1t took before the
labor board. Whether IT will Ignore
the decision Of the board or leave tho
door open for future negotiations with
out sacrificing any principle was mat
ter of speculation tonight. 1t has been
persistently reported the officers OF the
company will continue to deal with the
| committees already elected and with
which the company has working agree
ments. 1t is estimated about $4,000
shopmen employed in the territory be-
tween the Atlantic Ocean and the Mis-
sissippi River and the Virginia Capes
and Buffalo are involved in the con-
troversy.
Reports of strike preparations were
met with the statement that the Penn
sylvania Railroad is always prepared for
labor trouble and that no special prepa-
rations have been made for possible
walkout Of union shopmen.
Federation Leaders Careful.
1t is believed here that In the event
the company does not agree to meet
repre- sentatives Of System Federation NO.
90 by tomorrow leaders Of the fedora
tion will make q report to the board
before taking any further step. 1t Is
pointed out the decision OF the iapor
board provides that IL either party be-
lieyes the decision Is not being COM
nlied with a complaint should be filed.
From Altoona, Pa. where the Penn
svIyania's largest shops are situated.
came a report that men have been sent
over the system to advise the snopmen
IN remain at work until their union
leaders have exhausted all efforts to
bring about an agreement. one oincial
said a strike vote would be necessary
before the men would leave their work.
The present dispute came before the
Dor board at Chicago in July. In
the election of committees TO negotiate
new working agreements TO take the
place of the national agreements the
company insisted that the committee
men be confined to employees OF the
system and that the men vote Tor IN
dividuals and not organizations 70 rep
resent them. The system ieuersuon
oontended the men should be permitted
70 vote for organizations.