The Washington times., 1921-10-26

OPENS IN
CHICAGO
MANY Union Chiefs Fail to An
swer Summons BelIigerent
Mood Shown.
BY LUTHER A. HUSTON.
tional News Service.

International News Service.
CHICAGO, Oct. 26.-The "peo-
pie > conference" that the United
States Railway Labor Board con-
fidently hopes will avert the threat
ened strike of October 80 opened
in the Coliseum at 1880 o'clock
this morning. 1t was the most un-
usual assemblage in the industrial
history of the country.
Contending Parties "On Trial"
Heads of the big five" railway
unions aud the chiefs of every big
railroad in the country We're virtually
on trial before the Labor Board.
The meeting was called to order, by
Chairman Barton.
The clerks read the resolutions under
which the board took jurisdic ton of
the dispute between the roads and the
unions. A roll call of all those expect.
ed to be present was ordered.
Warren s. Stone, of the Engineers.
made protest against the taking OF
pictures. He declared he stood on
his rights as an American citizen" and
refused to be photographed until he
wanted to. Chairman Barton said he
had no conrtol over the photographers
and Stone offered to bring in his
strong arm squad and clear the hall.
Chairman Barton jocularly request
ed the photographers to omit Mi.
Stone from the pictures"
Many Union Leaders Absent.
AS the roll was called, 1t became
evident that many Of the general
chairman of the Brotherhoods had not
responded to the summons.
President l.. r.. Sheppard, of the
order Of railway conductors, demanded
the right to have his organization
represented by the executive com.
mittee and by counsel The same de
mand was made by Stone of the
Engineers and w. s. Carter OF the
firemen.
The brotherhood chiefs stressed the
point that the unions demanded the
same right of delegated representation
that had been accorded the railway
executives. They declared the execu.
tive councils Of the brotherhoods had
full power to act and the presence OF
general chairman was not necessary.
Chairman Barton ruled that the
roll of the general chairmen should
be called so that the board might
have a record Of those present. Only
a small ring OF response came from
the labor section as the roll was
called.
The heads OF the brotherhoods
manifested q very aggressive atti-
tude, giving promises Of fireworks
when the session got down to bust
ness.
After the roll call, Chairman Bar
ton issued a statement explaining
the purpose and authority of the
meeting.
Barton Outlines Program.
Chairman Barton's statement said
the hearing would embrace two
pheses-first. whether the boards
wage-cut decision was being violated;
and second, whether an interruption
of traffic is threatened.
TT was announced that Ben w.
Hooper, of the public group OF the
board, would conduct the inquiry
| for the board.
w, p Lee president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen IL
strike order had been issued and was
outstanding at this time. Lee saih
emphatically there was and made
statement outlining the manner In
which the strike decision had been
arrived at
Lee said ss per cent OF the train.
men had voted to strike rather than
remain in service.
by International News Service.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion was accused today by John E.
Benton, counsel for the National As.
sociation Of Railways. OF ignoring"
provisions OF the transportation act
which call for cooperation between
Continued on Page 2, Column ~
- - - - -
|. mex |