Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-19

ihONc ny punt tIpl "
avert strike came when this American
Farm Bureau federation. representing
100000 farmers, sent petitions to the
interstate commerce commission ass-
ing an immediate 10 to 20 per cont re-
duction in freight rates on necessities
and announced, that il also would ap-
peal to the labor board not to grant
new 10 per cent wage reduction which
the roads have announced they VIII
seek but rather to revise wages rather
in accordance generally With the cost
of living.
Concurrence in these requests should
avert the strike. the federation said
and volunteered to meet with union
and railroad representatives as
mediator.
Meetings to last all week Will be
started tomorrow by the eleven rail
unions which have not yet issued
strike calls. sltho most of them have
Eoted for strike.
Leaders of several OF these unions
announced at the meetings they will
oppose strike call in the hope
split between them and The five
unions already authorizing walk out
may avert a strike.
LABOR BOARD CONEENES
Union leaders called in by the labor
board were w. s. Carter. presidcn, OF
the brotherhood of Locomotive Fire.
men and E.nginemen; Warren :,
stone. president Of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers: William G.
Lee, president or the brotherhood OF
president of the Order of RAILWAY
Conductors and r. c.. Ga.hen. prcs-
dent of the Switchmens Uuion Of
North America.
The conference was called Tor the
aNowed purpose of preventing strike,
according n HpnnTr Nirr rhnir-
man of tho labor board. He returned
tonight from WASHINGTON where he
and other members OF the public group
conferred with President Harding.
1t is the desire of all clements of
the board to do everything possible to
prevent Il strikc,' he said after con-
ference with board members. What
the procedure will be on Thursday.
cannot say. II is safe to assume every
possibility of avertinG a walkout will
he taken up and it Is our hope that
the two parties can be brought to-
rether on some basis looking toward
settlement"
Mr.. Hooper refused to say whether
the board regarded the conference
summons as investigation of a threat
ened violation OF the boards orders.
1t was pointed out. however. that
there would be no violation of the
boards July !, wage reduction order
until the men walked out
ESplaininC further the. public state
ment issued by the public group In
Washington Sunday. Mr.. Hooper said
that the board recognized that there
was a universal demand for the re-
duction of freight rates.
CONSIDERS RATE CUT
In suggesting translation of the last
wage cut into reduced freight rates
and advising against further requests
for wage reductions at this time, the
board does not mean that parties may
not come before it with disputes" he
said
THE suggestion was made merely
as 'modus vivendi' for solving the
present transportation problem. We
suggested that the roads cease wage
reductions for the present and reduce
rates as a step in the revival OF in
dustry. We believe such action would
result in helping bridge the business
depression and lower the cost of Nv
ing
Then after the public had been
given a breathing spell the roads
would be at liberty to come back 10
the board with further requests for
wage reductions"
Proposals of the American Farm
bureau federation were made known
in a statement by ]. r. Howard, its
president.
The federation. he said was eager
and willing to meet with either
Continued on Page Eighth