The Washington times., 1921-10-19
B|ASSEEN
BY STONE
IN FAVOR
Of ROADS
Asks Why Federal Body Failed
To Act When Defied by
Company Executives.
By WILLIAM j. HUSKE,
International News Service.

CLEVELAND, Oct. ia con-
ference of leaders of the big Four"
railroad brotherhoods, scheduled for
this morning, was postponed until
afternoon, owing to the failure OF
T. C. Cashen, head of the Switch
mems union, to arrive in the city.
1t was said that l.. Z. Sheppard,
president Of the Order of Railway
Conductors. would not come on for
the meeting, but that the real war
council" of the union leaders would
be held in Chicago tomorrow morn.
ing, prior to their meeting with the
Railway Labor Board.
Stone Criticizes Labor Board.
81 note by the papers" Warren s.
Stone, head of the Brotherhood of
Engineers, said in a statement this
morning, that the Railway Labor
Board is going to assert its author
ity. II is strange that II should be
discovered only when labor is trying
to better its condition and is films
a protest against further wage re-
auctions, and that then, and not un-
til then, the United States Railway
Labor Board has full authority.
I'm the case of the Missouri and
North Arkansas in February. the At.
lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic in
March, the Pennsylvania, the Erie
and numerous other roads that could
be mentioned, the railroad officials
have simply flouted the authority Of
the labor board and have told them
very plainly and forcibly that they
would not recognize them and abide by
their decisions. and now at this late
date the board commences to talk
about asserting their authority when
labor Is interested.
''If the press reports are to be be-
lieved, the Administration has issued
statement that II now proposes to
find out whether or not the United
States Labor Board Ia a useless public
board. Why has not the Administra-
ton taken this position long ago? The
violation on the part of the railroads
has repeatedly been brought to the
attention of the Administration and no
action was taken"
Reply to Business Man.
stones statement was In reply to a
telegram received this morning from
A. z. Duncan, Of Atlantic City, who
declared he represented -four com
panies with aggregate resources Of
about s25, 900 900. and annual business
volume Of SIS. 900, ,0O0." In the tele.
gram, Duncan declared he strongly
supported the railroad executives pro-
posed plan of further wage and rate
reductions, regardless Of the outcome
Of the threatened strike, and declared
"an actual nationwide strike is more
to be desired than everlasting fear OF
such strike"
Call your strike" the telegram
ended, ''and see how quickly railway
employees are taught much needed
lesson and what a failure labor unions
are making of their affairs"
A strong effort to present united
front In tomorrow's conference with
the Railway Labor Board will be made
at today's conference of the big
four" leaders In the office OF w. q.
Lee, president OF the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen.
Lack Of Harmony Reported.
Indications that all has not been
harmonious in the ranks OF the or
ganizations calling n nationwide rail-
road strike, effective October 30, was
seen late yesterday when Lee an
nounced that members OF his organiza-