The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-27
Promise of No More Wage Cuts
May Avert Strike.
Federal Board Ready to Call
WaIkOut Illegal.
OFFICIAL ORDER ALL READY
Brotherhood Executives Appear
Ready to Comply.
Decision to Rescind Strike Order
Now Almost Certain.

Chicago. Oct. 27.-Peaceful settle
ment of the railway strike scheduled
for October 80 seemed imminent this
afternoon as the first session of the
conference of executive committees of
the five railway brotherhoods that
have voted to walkout adjourned.
Definite decision to rescind the strike
order appeared certain at this after
Moons session of the rail union
leaders.
As the union executives left the con-
ference where Ben w. Hooper, spokes-
man of the United States railway
labor board. had laid before them Of
ficially for the first time the boards
assurances that no further wage re-
ductions would be considered until
controversies over working rules had
been adjusted. they gave forth the
first ray of hope that has come from
be averted.
May Call Strike Illegal.
The United States railway labor
board has prepared an order declaring
the strike of the big five railway
brotherhoods, set for October 90, IL
legal and directing the heads of the
brutherhoods to call off the strike, II
was authoritatively learned today.
Issuance of the order will be with
held pending the outcome of the con-
ference to be held today by the execu-
tive committees of the brOtherhoods'
The brotherhood chiefs will be given
an opportunity to withdraw the strike
order before the labor board issues its
mandate that the strike is illegal and
must be called off.
Promised No More Cuts.
Before entering the meeting the
union chiefs had appeared dOWncast-
Tho change in their attitude as the
cd rlzP o
rise to the belief that Hooper had
presented to them a tangible basis Tor
alinstnlent a of the controversy. (
IEooDer himself was decidedly opti-
missile.
Il offered the men the only tangible
basis for a settlement of the proposed
STR 1te." said Cooper, Immediately aft
er tho meeting.
The board officially promised
them there would be no further wage
reductions This settlement involves
no concessions from any side. 1t was
simply an offer to the men showing
them a way out of this impossible
1ooper said he had gone into the
conference as a friend of the railroad
workers"
Union Chiefs Enthuse.
The union executives were enthusi
a. ic over Hooper's address to them.
.syVe had decided to 'standpat just
before entering this conference said
one executive But Hooper inn
pressed us so much that now the
sentiment is waver,ng. He made US
actually believe that the board intends
to carry out it's pledge of no further
wage reductions. This new sentiment
augurs well for pearce."
Hooper was optimistic about the
outcome.
Il never thought there would be
strike" he told newspaper men. And
after this mornings session, l feel
more certain that the difficulties Will
be adjusted peacefully"
The peace offers which Hooper
laid before the union men was the
resolution passed by the board and
made public last Tuesday,
It's important section follows:
The Boards Resolution.
1T is the Judgment of the board
that as a matter of procedure, it
would be unwise, and as a matter of
policy, unjust, to discontinue the dis
cussions of rules and working condi-
ton and enter into a prolonged hear
ing on an application to reduce wages
Mt this time. ..
1T win thus become apparent that
the employees who are protesting
against a further wage cut, are cross
ing bridges long before they can pos
sibly get to them and that carriers
cannot hasten a wage reduction by
TN view of foregoing consideration,
it is the purpose of the United States
labor board that the submission of
carriers and employees on rules and
working conditions shall be COM
pletely disposed of as to any particular
class of employees before a hearing is
had on any question of wages affect
ing the said class of employees on any
carrier covered by decision No. 147.
(the July l wage cut)."
Predict Peace Is Near.
Members of the board unofficially
predicted today that peace is near.
They believe that their announcement
that no further wage cuts will be con-
sidered until controversies over work
ing rules are disposed of, together
with the statement of T. Dewitt Guy
Ter. chairman of the standing COM
mitting of the Association of Railway
Executives, that railroads will not
make any changes in wage sched-
ules without going thru the regular
procedure before the board Paves the
way for the brotherhoods to withdraw
their strike order.
1t is understood the board has noti-
fled Washington of its findings and of
its preparations to issue an order in
tended to halt the strike. According
to advices here, the machinery Of de-
partment of justice has been set in
motion to invoke the aid Of the courts
to prevent the strike unless it is called
off by the brotherhood
state of Siege in Bulgar Capital.