Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-10-18
LABOR BOARD TAKES
FIRST step TO HALT
STRIKE OF 100000
Chicago, Oct. lS.-Telegrams summoning the
chiefs of the Big Four brotherhoods and the switch
men union to a conference with the United States
labor board in an endeav-
or to forstall an actual
walk-out on the nations s

4 >AosSAAA GAIA oItdoL
walk-out on the nations
railroads we're dispatched to the labor
chiefs today.
! The conference was called for Tues.
day afternoon at the Labor Boards
headquarters here. No outline of
what will be discussed was obtained.
but it was said new proposals would
be presented to the labor men in an
effort to prevent accession of work on
rne roads.
B. M. Jewell head of the shop crafts,
which comprise six Of the eleven
other standard organizations, none of
which have yet issued a strike call,
! said he had not been summoned by
| the board. The boards first efforts
I it was said would be directed toward
those organizations which have set
strike dates.
1--WE are going ahead with our plans
for executive conferences and we will
have reached our decision by the end
of the week. Mr.. Jewell said.
Chicago, Oct 1S.-Telegrams sum-
moning the chiefs Of the Big Four
Brotherhoods and the Switcmen's
Union to conference with the Unit
ed States Labor Board in an effort
to forestall an actual walkout on the
nations railroads were dispatched TO
| the labor chiefs today
Delay Cleveland Meeting.
! Cleveland Oct. 1S--A scheduled
meeting here today of the Big Five
transportation brotherhoods was can
celled this morning when the five
executives were requested by the
Railroad Labor Board to meet with
the board in Chicago Thursday morn
ing, Warren S. Stone, president of
the brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, announced.
Cabinet Hears Strike Report
Washington, Oct. 1S.-President
Harding was in position today to lay
before his cabinet an analysis OF the
railroad strike situation, an outline
of the governments position in the
controversy, and suggestions as to de-
fcnsiye measures to protect federal
functions if and when the tienp be
comes actual
In addition to q report submitted
pJ inc JOllI tOultI tIlbG VI tatS bhOtiN
group of the railroad labor board and
the interstate commerce commission
Mr. Harding was understood to have
the gist of reports obtained by Attor-
ney General Daugherty and PostmaS-
ter General Hays, after surveys OF the
situation by operatives in the depart
ment of justice and postotiice investi
cation.
Secretary of War Weeks had at HIS
disposal the gist Of study made by
general staff officers as an academic
problem Of tho best methods o. utill2-
ing the powers of his portfolio in case
of an emergency such as woulu result
from a nationwide paralysis CT trans
portation, but it was not known
whether he had been invited to bring
this to the white house That Pre3i-
dent Harding does not yet view the
strike as having passed beyond the
''pcs.i .ibilitv STAGE" was one interpre-
tation placed upon the announcement
mat ne plans TO leave Washington to-
night for Yorktown and WILLIAMSBURG
Va. where he will make addresses to-
morrow The presidential party is not
expected to return before Thursday.
Rush Freight by Water.
Wheeling, w. Va, Oct. 1S.-Inland
waterways transportation companies
operating on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers are rushing to completion re-
pairs on all steamboats, not already III
commission in anticipation of railroad
men walking out, it was announced at
the offices OF the Liberty Transit com
pany and the Shippers Packet com
pany here.
1t was estimated that at least 100
additional boats now in haTbOr or on
the docks will be in active service be-
fore the time set for railroad men to
strike.
Predict Cut In Rates.
Washington, Oct. 1S.-The impress
sion was given in administration quar-
ters today that a freight rate reduc-
tom was dndee consideration. Ad-
ministration officials said that a state
ment concerning the rate adjustment
might come within a few days. II
was made plain that the rate question
was independent of the threatened
strike of the railway employees.