Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-22
LABOR BOARD
HOPES FOR PEACE

CHICAGO, Oct .22.-The status quo"
Of the railway labor situation was in the
, spotlight today.
Keen interest was being taken here in
whether the railroads and the union
/ leaders would comply strictly with the
orders of the United States railway
labor board to maintain the strike affairs
in their present status or would hout
the authority of the board and proceed
with strife plans.
The order of the board yesterday, which
cited both the rail chiefs and the union
leaders TO appear next Wednesday for
a hearing on whether the recent wage
cut decision of the board is being .olated
through the calling of a strike, virtually
forbade the strike It likewise is tanta-
mount to an order that no further plans
for the strike scheduled for Oct. 30 shall
be formulated. 1t directs both the rail-
roads and the unions to maintain the
| status quo"
Executives Of the railroads have an
nounced they VIII drop all plans for com
batting the strike and await the out
cCme of the conference here next Wednes-
day. The meeting Of the Western rail
road executives here voted compliance
with the boards order.
Heads of the brotherhoods also, accord
ing TO reports from Cleveland, have de-
clared they will comply with the citation
Of the board, but there were reports in
railroad circles that the brotherhood
chiefs did not intend to halt completely
the strike plans which they have been
formulating since the failure Of their con-
ference With the labor board here on
Thursday to avert the strike.
The fremont & Gull Railroad,
sixty mile logging line in Louisiana,
Of which J. Stanley Joyce, the Chicago
millionaire, who is being sued for divorce
by Peggy Hopkins Joyce, is the presi
dent. placed an open shop" order in
emptOrily ordered cancellation Of the open
shop plan. and this morning the road
obeyed the boards mandate.
There was a disposition in official cir
cles here today to be optimistic with
regard to the latest move OF the labor
board to avert the strike. 1t was pointed
out that the board has authority to
summon before it at any time whomso-
ever It pleases, and failure to comply is
punishable by contempt of court pro-
ceedings.
1t was believed that tie action of the
board in calling the union chiefs and the
rail heads before it paved the way for
court proceedings to halt the strike in
the event the union chiefs cannot be
persuaded 10 rescind the strike order.
Although the United Brotherhood of
Maintenance Of Way Employees already
has declared for strike, f. F. Cradle, pres
ident Of the organization, announced that
It will act in concert with the other
unions.
An organizations viii get their ma
chinery ready to prepare for EVENTUAL
ties" said Ora BILE, but they are not GO
ing 10 plunge into something until they
know what is what. There seems moth
ing 10 do now but to defer action until
developments by the railway labor board
and until We learn whether the brother
hoods are really going on with their
strike program. We don't want to be put
In the position OF ordering the men out
Oct. 30 and then canceling the order.
"If the brotherhood strike does
materialize, the question of getting as
surances from them OF Joint act: IN and
Joint settlement will be brought up by
the other unions"
Some of the shop crafts, It IS learned,
are in favor Of deferring strike acti0h IN
til next spring.