New-York tribune., 1921-06-09
brotherhood Official Saws
Men Cannot Be Held
Back After Wage Cut
Vote Unless Board Acts
Responsibility Laid
To Road Owners
Sheppard Declares Work
ers Have Been the Goat
and Must Be Considered
snecial Dispatch 10 The T,Ibuus

CHICAGO, June S.-Threats Of n
general railroad strike on July / AS n
result of the wage cuts ordered by the
United States Railroad Board made by
l.. +. Sheppard, president of the Order
of Railway Conductors, and w. G. Lee.
president of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen, startled the board, and
railroad officials gathered to-day for
the second wage hearing.
If 1T comes to a case where the men
must assert their only weapon and
stoppage of traffic results, it will be
the responsibility of the railroads first
and then of this board" declared Shep-
pard.
The members of my organization, :"
said Lee. "are intelligent enough to
know We are in a period of readjust-
ment. The question Of this wage re-
ductlon goes to the men personally
July 1 because we have been the goat
long enough. I'd hate to predict in
advance the action they will take"
The cut will be laid before the men
and they will be required to act for
themselves" said Sheppard. "If they
see fit to accept, the executives will
not object.
Play No Politics
During the war we were hailed as
great patriots when we promised there
should be no strikes. Men who had
more love Tor finance than for country
got results during the war. Now there
IS lnnuendo that we will play politics,
tnat our JOBS are at stake. Those who
know the brotherhoods know we will
not play politics.
Ihe railroads can bring down their
house upon themselves and take the
consequences. If we believe in povern-
ment control it is because we think II
would be more kindly. II we receive
talr treatment we have no desire TO
see government control.
~ appeal to this board to save the
Ialiroads from themselves and the pub
lie from catastrophe"
1T was announced that the raiI,y,,
clerks and the Switchmen's Union ~
North America will meet here july /
70 vote on acceptance or rejection of
the wage cut. Every labor organiza-
tlon aHected now has announced a vote
Will be taken.
Demand Fair Wage
Executives of the four big brother
hoods opened their fight today to pre-
vent application of the wage reduction
70 scores of railroads which are seek
ing permission to come in under the
boards decision. Harry P. Daughertv,
vlce-grand chief of the brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers declared it is
not as important that the bondhold
ers get their interest as for the men to
get fair wage"
Ir. Sheppard, referring to testimony
yesterday by railroad attorney that
an engineer on the Nashville, Chatta-
nooga q st. Louis road earned more
money than the Governor of Tennes-
see, said the engineer on the road
worked fourteen hours day, and every
day In the year. He added that Gov
ernors receive expense allowances and
in some states, their home.
z. Morris, of Washington. chairman
of the Central Freight Association. in
a statement issued to-day said that
the railroads of the United States
would not voluntarily grant any gen
eral reduction in freight rates under
existing conditions"
me statement, purporting to be on
pehaif OF the railways of the entire
country, said "the carriers are in no
condition to accept the far-reachinr
consequences" of reductions that have
been requested.
The official statement came in re-
sponse to urgent requests for freight
rate reductions made last week at q
conference in Washington between
railway officials and representatives
OF Shippers associations especially in
terested in the transportation of build
ing construction and road building