Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-20
FIRST CONFERENCES
To PREVENT STRIKE
BEGUN IN CHICAGO
Commissioners Terms un-
derstood to Include Imme-
diate Reduction Of Rates;
Postponement of WaIkout

CHICAGO, Oct. 19.-(By the AS
ISOLATED Press).-The first of ses
ries of conferences in Chicago at
which representatives of all factions
in the railroad strike situation may
decide the outcome of the strike call
issued by the big four brotherhooda
for October 80, began here today, ia
continue over the weekend.
Three group meetings are, sched
uled:
1. Executives of the shopmena
maintenance of way workers, Clerks
and others meet today,
tomorrow, Friday and Sunday. to
decide their attitude toward the an.
nounced strike of the train service
employees, with indications of final
decision at a joint conference Sun.
day.
2. Brotherhood leaders are on
their way here to hear the govern
ment's attitude through the railroad
labor board tomorrow.
8. Railroad executives Of the cen.
trail division meet Friday in Chica'
go to discuss all phases of the strike
situation, while executives Of the
other divisions meet simultaneously
in their own regions.
Freight rate reductions approx.
mately equivalent to the IL per cent
wage reduction in wages ordered
last July 1, by the railroad labor
board, were indicated as the probable
basis of the suggestion the labor
board will propose, with the backing
of the administration to avert the
strike.
"I understand" said Commissions
er Ben w. Hooper, a member Of the
public group of the labor board.
"that the interstate commerce COM
mission has a number of important
rate reduction cases on hand, on
which it will act Immediately. That
will give us something to work on"
The boards policy as outlined by
Commissioner Hooper, would pro-
pose to the brotherhood chiefs i'm
mediate suspension Of the strike or.
der on their part. and their influence
in preventing other walkouts,- while
the executives would be asked to
concede the withdrawal of the pro-
posed request for further wage cuts
oY,d iT11rfoo6iatQ radiation
of freight rates.
President j. r. Howard, of the
farm bureau federation, today had
on file before the interstate COM
merce commission here petition
for a ten to twenty per cent freight
rate reduction on necessities of life.
Officials of the telegraphers. have
scheduled a meeting here Friday and
the clerks Sunday. No definite de-
cision, leaders of these eleven union3
indicated, will be made before the
end of the week.
While prospects for settlement OF
the strike were groWig brighter. ar.
my officials, it is understood, were
making preparations for operating
trains by federal troops.
A. F. l.. CONFERENCE
OJNINI1I
CHICAGO, Oct. 19.-(By the AS
ISOLATED Press. CDevelopm in the
possibility of a strike order by 9TH
ers of the sixteen standard labor or
CARNATIONS, besides the five train
service bodies, were seen today In
a call for assembling tomorrow Of
the conference committee OF LOO OF
the railway employees department,
American Federation of Labor. This
has full power to order a.
strike of the six shop crafts.
No final action was expected, how
ever, before Friday according to B.
NJ. Jewell, president OF the depart
ment.
STEERS ORDERED
NOT TO JOIN STRIKE
COLUMBUS, O., Oct. 19.-Nation-
al headquarters here of the Railroad
Association of America,
with a membership of more than
/. 900 throughout the country, today
sent out notices to it's members to-
remain at work performing their
usual duties in the event of rail-
road workers strike.
DEPENDS
ON RAIL LABOR BOARD
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-The rail
road labor board will be given the
full support of federal authority In
it's endeavor to avert the national
railroad strike, and will be expected
the result to justify its Gre
alton.
The above summary of the strike
situation was given in official circles
before President Harding, accompa-
MED by several members of his cab
met, left the capital for Yorktown,
Va, to participate today in celebra-
ton of yorktown Day"
With the problem definitely as
signed to the labor board for solution
and each interested branch of the
ready with a defensive
program in the event Of the strike
no important local de-
were expected today.
Reports from military area head
quarters that steps were being taken
20 list men now in the service who
nave had experience in various
phases of railroad work are under
stood not to be the result of a gen.
,ral order from Secretary Weeks IT
vas said, however, that the general
staff, or any Of it's subsidiary
branches, might undertake such a
on it's own initiative as
natter of routine precaution.
Although suggestion was made
in. high official quarters
hat important revision Of railroad
reight rates were in prospect and
night eVentuate Immediately, the
Interstate commerce commission had
10 pronouncement of Importance to
make today at the regular period
or the issuance of decisions.
Expectation was expressed in
some quarters today that develop
nents in the, rate question might
hinge about an anticipated volun-
airy action Of the railroads them
IL AL Il