The New York herald., 1921-10-23
RAILROAD HEADS
GOING TO CHICAGO
Presidents Will Attend Meet
ing of Labor Board Called
for Wednesday.
READY FOR SHOWDOWN
Assertion Made That Public Is
Getting Benefit of Wage
Cut of July J..

Presidents of railroads entering New
York and New Jersey will leave to-mor-
row morning for Chicago to attend the
meeting which the Railroad Labor Board
has called for Wednesday. That an
| nouncement was made yesterday at the
Offices OF the Association of Railway
Executives. 61 Broadway.
Despite the fact that in many quar-
ters hope is held that the strike will be
averted, both sides to the controversy
are going ahead as rapidly as possible
with their plans for strengthening their
positions in the event of q showdown.
Virtually all employees in the mctropoli-
tan district had received their ctrike
orders late yesterday.
Lewis ]. Spence, director of traffic of
the Southern Pacific Company, pointing
to the apparent belief that the public
has not received any benefit from the
wage reduction which was made by the
! labor board effective July IT, issued a
statement in which he declared that
thousands of readjustments have been
made, and In most cases the readjust-
mcnt meant a reduction in rates.
Live stock rates, he said, have been
reduced 20 per cent. copper bullion, %
per cent; lumber from the Pacific
coast 10 per cent. from New Orleans
and Galveston to New York, 35 to 40
per cent, and cotton from Gulf ports
to New York. 20 to 25 per cent. Those
reductions which have been made. he
said. are important enough to be con-
vincing.
Must Reduce Costs, Says Peters.
Ralph Peters, president Of the Long
Island Railroad. issued this statement
''In order to meet the almost univer-
sal and inslstent demand for a general
reduction Of freight rates. It Is abso-
iutely necessary to reduce wages and
the cost of operation. The theory that
reduction In freight rates will imme-
diately revive general business to such
an extent as to increase tonnage and
thereby increase the gross earnings can
not be depended upon any more than
the theory that the increase In freight
rates was sufficient to take care Of the
wage advance made in July, 1920. The
railroads accepted the increase made in
wages at that time and bore the burden
unit, nearly bankrupt"
Mr.. Peters admitted that II the ma
jority Of the men employed by the Long
Island Railroad obey the strike orders 1t
will seriously affect train service and
cause great Inconvenience to the public.
ITO prepare against this eventuality."
he said, "the management asks the CO.
operation of its patrons and calls for
volunteers who, with such men as re-
main in the service, may operate the
trains necessary to meet the daily re-
quirements. The intention Is not to en-
ploy professional strike breakers, and
the railroad company guarantees that
those who enter Its employ will not be
Disseminated against as to the per-
manence of their employment"
Lieut.. Harry w. Miller, in charge OF
recruiting for the marines In New York
and Connecticut. announced that II the
strike comes his detail will man six
automobile trucks and endeavor to get
milk from the farms to the cities to be
| sold to the poor at cost.
Many Seek Railroad Jobs.
Applications for railnoad service con-
tinued to pour in at the offices of the
Erie and Pennsylvania railroads in Jer-
sey City. The total number OF applica-
tions on both roads. 1t was said. Is now
about 400.
The National Association OF the Mo-
ton Picture Industry announced that a
railroad strike would not seriously ham,
per shipments Of films. William A.
Brady, president Of the association. was
quoted as follows:
"If a strike were called tomorrow we
would be prepared to keep film ship
ments moving. With motor trucks.
motor boats, motorcycles and every
other available means Of delivery, the
national traffic organization we have
built up Is now in a position to serve
exhibitors efficiently"
A statement from the State Depart
ment of Farms and Markets said:
There has been little evidence so far
In the wholesale produce markets of in
creased buying in anticipation OF the
railroad strike. Wire inquiry to shipping
sections for potatoes in car lots has,
however been more active, and the
tendency at the end of the week was
toward what is called In the trade a
'firmer market
A large part Of the fourteen principal
fruits and vegetables brought into this
city during the last week. according to
the statement, might have been brought
by motor truck. barge canal or Hudson
River boats.