The Washington herald., 1921-08-30
Rail OWNERSSAY
DANGER OF STRIKE
MUCH OVERRATED
Union Leaders, However,
Assert Present Plans
.... Are for 1sWar."

CHICAGO, Aug 29.-Despite the
fact that 100000 strike ballots were
being received by lodges of the "big
four brotherhoods today in prepa-
ration for the bailotfng on septem-
Der l. RaiIroas executives asserted
that the probabilities OF strike OF
any Importance are being greatly
overrated..
The ballots were placed in the
mails last night. The wording Of
those in use by three of the brother
hoods leaves the, final strike step to
the discretion of their officers, while
that Of the trainmen makes the per-
mission for the walkout contingent
solely on the: outcome of the vote.
Board Bnder Fire.
The attitude OF the railroad exec
cutivcesc was, evidenced by a state
ment by C. H. Markham. president
Of the Illinois Central Railroad.
Il don't believe any strike will
grow out of this of such magnitude
as to interfere materially with
traffic" Mr.. Markham said.
L ne lranSpOTldtfOH act pEofloco
the instrument to deal with just
such a contingency as-now being
discussed in the press, and when 1t
comes to a showdown, ! believe the
better sense of the men viii prevail
and there will be no strike"
Other observers of the situation
believed the chief hopes for peace
lay in a reversal by the Railroad
Labor Board of some Of its recent
decisions
The board itself is at present un-
der a hot fire from both sides. The
PENNSYLVANIA railroad is seeking
through a rather involved process
to bring hearing on a recent rul-
ing into the civil courts. while the
strike ballots very frankly say that
the board must reverse itself on the
question of wage cuts ordered July
1. and on the abolition of the time
and-one-half pay for Sunday and
holiday work.
No More Overtures.
But, in spite of this executive
attitue. John Scott, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor Rail
road Department, which includes
500, 900 union shopmen, said today
that the shnpmen would make no
further overtures to the carriers.
and that the ultimatum that the
men prepare for war" was final.
The shopmen have decided not to
ask the carrier officials for addition
al conferences on working rules, II
is stated.
Tho next move is Up to the man
ayers" Scott said. We will ask
no more conferences on the
rules question and in the meeting
we have with the individual carri-
ers on working rules. as directed
by the Railroad Labor Board, we
will notify the managers that under
no circumstances will we accept the
decision eliminating Sunday over
time. and other rules which take
away the privileges the men have
enjoyed for years"
At the same time, the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen was send
ing out its strike ballot. notify
ing the men that their vote on
working for reduced wages or
leaving the service" will be final
and will not be stopped by the
Grand Lodge officers.
Has Startling Eject.
The head of the Brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen is w. G. Lee. one
of the most conservative OF uEion
leaders and the statement has had
startling effect on the situation.
which President B. NJ. Jewell, OF
the Federated Shop Crafts, called
the most critical in the history
of our organizations"