The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1921-10-21

Switchmens Union of North America
were on their way tonight from A
weeks conference here with the sign
ed authorizations for strike.
No further orders will be neces-
sary, the brotherhood chiefs said. to
call out the rail workers. Grand of
ficers of the brotherhood left for
Cleveland tonight.
Printed Instructions were handed
every general chairman to govern the
mems conduct. These authorized Il
progressive walkout, the first at 6 a.
M, October 30, to be followed by the
other three secret groups each 81
hours, October 81 and November |
and 2.
Every chairman carried in a sealed
packet code word for use if the
strike is called off In event of ra-
ceiving the code word from head
quarters each chairman is to open his
packet to identify the word.
No reservations are made in the
strike authorizations. Skeleton ser
vice. outlined in the bylaws of the
unions, is to be maintained, but 9th
erWise every man is expected to walk
out. The instructions declare the
men have chemically the same right
to refuse to perform service on all
mail trains as you have to perform
service on freight train"
Arriving at their headquarters.
general chairmen of the brotherhoods
and switchmen will issue system Or
ders over the signatures of general
chairmen carrying the hour and date
of strike. These orders will go to To-
cal chairmen who will pass them to
the rank and file.
Although plans for the walkout of
the other II of the 16 railroad organi-
cations were incomplete tonight it
was said that the general procedure
would be much like that of the broth
erhoods.
Warren S. Stone, grand chief of the
engineers, declined to comment on the
conferences of this week He said an
announcement might be made from
the Cleveland office later.
Were all through" he said. 81
can't tell you anything now, but that
the die is cast"
w. G. Lee, president of the train
men, said he had used every influence
to avert a strike on the basis of the
II per cent wage reduction of July /,
1921, but that he felt any further re-
ductions would justify a walkout.
81 preferred to accept that reduc-
ton with an assurance that there
would be no further wage reductions
or change in our working rules for
reasonable period" Mr. Lee said.
81 felt that if the railroads got
through these business conditions.
they would be in position to pay the
present rates of pay"
Mr.. Lee refused to comment on the
strike orders, although he admitted
that he had already sent out one au-
thorlzation to strike to trainmen on
the International e. Great Northern.
Traimen on this road, which operates
between San Antonio and Palestine,
Texas, asked to strike at noon, Oct.
p, independently of the other groups.
Mr.. Lee gave his authorization sever
al days ago, and it stillstands. The
road, however, is included in the first
group scheduled to walk out. and the
trainmen may defer action until Oc-
tober 80.
l.. f. Sheppard, president of the
conductors, said he could say nothing,
reiterating his announcement of sew
eral days ago that no official state
ment would be given out here.
T. c. Cashen, head of the switch
men, and w. S. Carter president OF
the tiremen, declined to comment
The proposed 10 per cent reduction
would bring wages back nearly to the
level prevailing prior to July 20,
1920.
For the principal classes of labos
those schedules were:
Passenger service engineers (day)
$500 to $500.
Freight service engineers (daD
$3.50 to 1882.
Yard service engineers (day) $3.50
to $6.0S.
Passenger service fremen day 81
to $5.
Freight service fremen (day) $4.2J
to S615.
Yard service fremen day $4.16
to s4.32.
Yard service foremen day $5.33.
Helpers day IS.
Switch tenders (day) 81.
Machinists (hour) 70.
Boilermakers (hour) 10.
BlackSmths (hour) 70.
Carpenters (hour) As.
Track laborers (hour) 40.
Section foremen (month) 500.
Yard firemen helpers (hour) .53l2.
Holsters, outside day $500.
HOstlerS inside (dayl 81 521a