The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-18
u. S. Rail Labor Board
Requests Meeting With
Heads Of Big Five
Unions

CLEVELAND. Ohio. Oct. 18--A
scheduled meeting here today Of the
executives Of the big Five" trans-
portation brothcfhooes was cancelled
this morning when the five executives
were requested by the railroad labor
board TO meet with the board in Chi
eago Thursday morning, Warren $.
Stone. president Of the brotherhood of
locomotive engineers announced.
The message from the labor board
reached Mr.. Stone in his office here
during The morning. He declared he
had no intimaiion OF what the board
wished to discuss with the leaders of
the railroad workers. but said all
scheduled conferences here would no
postponed until after the Chicago
meeting.
T. c, Cashen. president of the switch
mems union Of North America and
L. II. Sheppard, president of the Or
der of Railway Conductors, are still
in Chicago. They Will be joined there
probably Wednesday night by Mr..
stone, w G. Lee, president of the
brotherhood Of railroad trainmen. and
W. s. Carter, head OF the brotherhood
of locomotive firemen and enginemen.
Chiefs Hold Meeting
Chiefs of the big five" railroad
transportation organization convened
here today for their first conference
since authorizing the nationwide rail.
road strike in Chicago last Saturday.
Those attending the conference were
w. G. Lee, president of the brother
hood of railroad trainmen, Warren S.
Stone, president of the broohtrhoodl OF
locomotive engineers, w. S. Carter,
president Of the brotherhood of fire.
men ana enginemen and l.. i. Curtis.
l.. E. Sheppard, president of the order
of raill Dad conductors. Whether T. G.
Cashen, president of the switchmen's
union of North America would arrive
In time for the conference was not
known. Both he and Mr.. Sheppard
were expected to arrive during the
day.
1t was announced that general plans
for conducting the strike would be dis.
cusscd, whether any question of out.
standing Importance has presented It.
self was not stated. 1t is expected that
the proposal of the pubic group Of the
railroad labor board To pass the July
wage reduction on down to the public
through reduced rates will receive only
passing consideration by the leaders.
as most of them. have indicated they
have considered the plan of little
value.
lee issues Statement
Itsflrs IN
Lee OF the trainmen, issued state
ment in which he asserted that "the
brotherhood OF railroad trainmen very
reluctantly takes the position that It
cannot longer agree 10 give -ervice un-
less there is assurance that there will
be no further wage reductions, not at
tempt to eliminate working rules that
nave been safeguarded through many
years Of collective bargaining and
which represent only a fair remunera-
ton for extra service given.
An, discussing The wages OF train
men, In which he made comparisons OF
wages paid in 1912 with those received
now. Mr.. Lee said:
"Thc men have been asked TO ac-
ccpt what Is an inadequate living
wage. The yknow the railways are TAX
Ing unfair advantage OF business de.
preston to force them 10 accept unfair
wages and service conditions. To state
the matter briefly they believe the
companies are going to continue their
aggressive warfare against them until
they force tho men to strike. These-
fore they must reluctantly decide to
accept the challenge now.
Reviews Wage Matter
Mr.. Lees statement In part follows:
"'rhe wages Il train and yard ser.
vice employees were fixed In 1918. and
were not changed. except In a very
few minor instances. until Jan. |.
1918. Time and one.half for over
time WIS not allowed yard employees
until April l019ls. and for road en-.
ployes, until Dec. ]. 1919. The award
Of the United states railroad labor
board which fixed wages at the peak.
became effective May 1920. while tho
wage reduction IN which the pres
cnt controversy hinges. became ef.
fcctive July /. ioei The further
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