The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-15
Brotherhood Chiefs, OPP
posing Further Reduc-
tion, Prepare Plans.
RIVAL FACTIONS IN
FINAL CONFERENCE
Failure to Agree Will
Bring Sectional Walk
Outs Within 6 Weeks.
py United Eews.)

CHICAGO. Oct. l4-The confer
ence of railroad executives and
union leaders in an attempt TO pre-
vent strike action by 100000 rail-
road employees will prove futile. it
was Indicated as soon as the meet
ing was started here tonight
The railroads will insist upon
asking the board for further wage
cuts. according to an official state
ment issued by r. Dewitt cuyIer,
president of the American Associa-
tion OF Railroad Executives.
An application will be made i'm
nediately 10 the United States
Railroad Labor Board for a reduce
tion in wages Of train service en-
ployes sufficient to remove the re-
mafnder OF the Increase made bv
the Labor Boards decision Of July
20. 1920. which would involve a fur
ther reduction Of approximately 10
per cent; and for a reduction in the
wages OF all other classes. of rail-
road labor to the going rate for
such labor In several territories
where the carriers operate" the
statement declared
THE cuts are 10 be made with Tn
understanding that concurrently
with such reduction in wages. the
benefit OF the reduction thus OBJ
tanned shall. with the concurrence
OF the Interstate Commerce Conn
mission. be passed on to the public
In the reduction OF existing railroad
rates except in so far as such reduc-
ton shall have been made in the
meantime"
The executives declared that this
ACTON is necessary as the carriers
hao net railway operating income
1 OF about s62 600 900 in 1890 unop n
property investmsnt OF SIS. GOO COO
600. and that the net income in
ciuded $4,000. 900. IN back mail pay
from the government
Unions comnitfed to strike.
As the five big brotherhoods are
committed to a widespread strike as
soon as any further reductions in
wages are made. Il was believed
that the conference would break up
at an early hour without a satis-
factory &greement The reduction in
wages 70 be asked by the carriers
amounts to $500. 600. 600 annually.
Both the executives and the broth
erhcod leaders were in executive
session throughout the day. At the
Great Northern Hotel the union
leaders were completing their strike
plans in case the executives decided
To ask for further wage cuts. More
than l0o railroad executives at the
blackstone Hotel were holding an
equally momentous meeting
The executives appointed the fol-
lowing committee to meet with the
union men: W. w. Atterbury, OPP
Grating vice president Of the Penn
sylvania: J. E. German. president
OF the Rock Island: Carl R Grey.
president Of the Union Pacific: c.
H Markham. president of the nli-
nois Central. and Ralph Budd. pres
| ident OF the Great Northern.
The union officials. representing
100000 railroad employees. are J.
Warren S. Stone. grand chief of the
, Locomotive Engineers: W. S. Car
ter. president OF the brotherhood
Of Firemen and Engineers; l. E.
Sheppard, president Of the Order OF
Railway Conductors: w. G. Lee.
president of the Brotherhood 0f
Railway Trainmen. and T. g.
Cashen. president Of the Switch
mems Union OF North America
: One report that the union leaders
had set October 80 as the date for
general strike was not confirmed
throughout the day w. G. Lee.
: president Of the brotherhood OF
, Railway Trainmen. first denied this
report and later declined o. ccr-
firm or deny II. Other unior leAs-
ers were also silent on this aues-
' ton
Strike Plans Drawn.
1t was learned. however thas
complete strike plans were made.
: dependent upon any action that the
. executives might take in asking Tor
further wage decreases. II was ae-I
} cided, IL was learned. not e oraef
, any walkout due to the ls
I cut Of last July. but a svsf-
, strikes covering the entire
E without paralyzinC trafic
pletely was arrived at
II the executives are dett f-
to ask for further wage 6s' -.
IL can be au.Ao-ltativeh Lied.
: strikes will be called wit six
: weeks, as follows:
The trainiaen cn ne southern
A Pacific VIII b. called cut.
Z II this strike dos not lead to
: railroad csrtt1lation. train service
" unions will be cssleS out on either
. the Chicago ard Sorthwestern or
: the Chicago. Burlington and ouin-
: cy. to he followed in quick success
: sion by wslScuts on the Illinois
, Central sHccting the Mississippi
Valley; on The Baltimore and Ohio
ard Sesbcard lines; and on the New
York, New Haven and Hartford and
the Boston and Maine.
/, Then according to information.
! the $500 shopmen OF the Pennsyl-
vania would be called out
In this way. according to Official
Information. the entire country
would feel the force Of the strike
and yet permit the transit of food
n supplies. milk trains. and necessary
q freight service to continue. unless
d further Generalization of trans
: portation was felt necessary by the
union leaders.
The determination of the union
leaders TO bring up the strike issue
: was heightened during the day by
a decision of the Railroad Label
: Board abolishins the prohibitier
contained N the national agree.
ments against piece work in rail.
road shops The decision gives the
= railroads the right to- negotiat,
: with employees on whether piec,
4 -work is 10 be the schedule Of pa,
5 in shops or nok Thirteen othel
1 Coofi,1acd a.. rl<T.,. T..c