The New York herald., 1921-07-07
R. R. unions PREPARE
FOR Vote ON WAGES
Believed Most of Members
of Big Five Will Accept
Reductions.
MEN GET FINAL WORD
Leaders Fear That Present
Cuts May Lead to Other
Constructions.
HIDDEN WARNING SEEN
BY Deferring Action Until
September Officials Keep
Grip on Situation.
HIDDEN WARNING SEEN

speciGl Despatch TO THE New YORK HERArp
CHICAGO July 6.--Preparations to
put the IL per cent. wage cut ordered
by the United States Railway Board
TO a referendum of the 100000 rail
way employees were made to-day by
the 1,500 general chairmen who have
been meeting in Chicago for the last
five days.
This action follows the resolution
adopted by the chief executives of the
big Five" unions not to assume the
responsibility of accepting the wage
reduction" but to leave the final word
with the men. The referendum must
be finished by September 1.
That most of the railway employees
will vote to accept the reductions was
inside. Before the vote is taken, how
ever. every effort to reach an agree
ment by meetings with the executives
Of the railroads will be made by the
Unions.
THE whole thing will be put up to
the men on referendum vote If the
controversy is not settled soon," Warren
S. Stone, grand chief of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, said. Does
that indicate that you have decided to
accept the wage cut?" he was asked.
do you see any indications of ac-
ceptance?" he answered, and refused to
answer any other questions put to him.
The main argument In all the ses-
ent cuts and attacks ON the working
agreements are only the beginning of
plan for further cuts and abolition Of
conditions for which the men have con-
tended for years.
H. NJ. Daugherty, vice-ohief of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
to-day said: I'VE want to secure these
assurances so the men will know what
they are voting about when this ques-
ton of acceptance or rejection or the
wage cut comes up. IL they vote to
accept. they want to know that 1t is
all they have to accept, and not merely
the forerunner of other cuts.
BY calling for referendum and de-
ferring the time of action until Septem-
ber the leaders have in their hands
rather heavy club which they may WELD
to good purpose in effecting new work.
ing rules. Some see in the action OF the
leaders compromise and at the same
time hidden warning to the rail beads
that the wage cuts may be accepted if
the working conditions remain virtually
the same as in the past.
There is one thing certain" declared
one union chief. The national agree
ments ordered abrogated by the Labor
Board will stick or there will be trouble"
Even though the referendum when
taken should reject the wage reductions
the union leaders need not be bound by
that vote to call a strike. 1t would
simply mean they are authorized to call
a strike il they deem II necessary.
The Brotherhood of Railway Teles-
raphers ard the Brotherhood Of Railway
clerks are known to have voted already
to adopt the same resolutions as those
passed by the Big Five" The decision
of the maintenance of way men will be
announced upon the return Thursday of
i. F. Cradle. grand president. from De-
troit, where he has been In. conference
with the general chairmen Of his or
ganization there.