The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-10-15
HERE'S MORE ABOUT
RAIL STRIKE
STARTS ON PAGE ONE

NaH fA1f III TFNribtis tHh
plans for the walkout.
Adding further TO the strike tcm.
per OF the unions, information from
railroad executives today was that
the 10 per cent slice In wages for
skilled labor and 20 per cent for un.
skilled workers. agreed upon at the
employers meeting. would be placed
In effect just as soon as the pay.
rolls can be changed. without walt.
ing for action by the United States
railroad labor board. Some officials.
high executives said. would be cut
ting wages by November !.
This could be done without vioiat.
ing the transportation act, the exec.
utives contcndcd. A dispute mus,
have arisen between the workers
and the employers before a case can
be brought before the board. The
roads. they declared. could arbitrari.
~ cut wages. The men then would
appeal 10 the board for relief and
the hearing would be called.
WAGE CUT PLAN
DECIDED ON
The whole procedure, according 10
one high official. was mapped out In
Washington last week.
This whirl OF events jolted the
broiherhoods in the last - hours:
Railroad executives met. They
carried out their schedule TO Gu,
wages and OF later asking the inter
state commerce commission 20 slash
freight rates after wages were trim.
med.
UNION MEN
FACE PROBLEM
brotherhood chiefs asked for con.
ference. This was granted. Ex.
ecutives merely told the brotherhood
chiefs what action had been taken.
The union leaders walked out. This
procedure was In spite OF the fact
that the brotherhoods were armed
with their most powerful weapons
strike vote. The strike vote was
taken on the wage cut OF last July.
Now they faced n more aggravated
issue.
Having decided 20 can a strike
October 80 this is what the brother.
hoods faced today:
They realized. according 20 best In.
formation. that a strike would not he
popular Farmers and business mon
are promised decreased freight rates
when wages are trimmed High
freight rates have been blamed 10y
both. and also representative public
men, as the cause OF business stagna-
ton.
IL would be possible to recruit from
the iegions OF unemployed men 10
take the place OF strikers.
Two million men would become
jobless with winter coming on.
Transportation would be crippled
and food supplies cut off. which
would initiate against sympathy
from the public.
II a strike were called II would be
case OF bucking the government. II
has been declared at the unemploy.
mcnt conference in Washington that
the administration believes that one
OF the first steps toward normally
should he reduction OF railroad
wages and freight rates.
ADMINISTRATION
BACKS ROADS
Railroad executives who met here
declared the administration was hack
OF their move TO cut wages and then
reduce freight rates.
The strike date was set for
October 80. provided executives re.
fused to enter into further negotia.
tons in which the unions hoped 10
obtain pledges against additional
wage cuts.
The committee OF union leaders
who conferred with the executives
were TO refort back 10 the general
chairman the unsatisfactory results
of their conference at the meeting
today.
Following their report. the strike
plans were 10 he submitted to the
general chairman. These plans in.
ciude calling out the trainmen OF
the Southern Pacific on October 80.
a. l.