New-York tribune., 1921-10-15
Rail Executives Call for
10 Per Cent Pay Drop
and Freight Revision
as Only Cure in Crisis
Union Chiefs Fear
Men Will Rebel
Point Out Danger Because
of Vote to Walk Out
Over Last Wage Cut

CHICAGO, Oct. IA (By The AS
sociated Press) The possibility Of
a general railroad strike in the near
future began to take shape tonight
as a result of q definite move made
here to-day by the railroad execu-
tives of the country to bring about
further reductions in the wages OF
union employees.
After meeting this morning,
which was attended by about one
hundred railroad heads, a statement
was issued by President T. De Witt
Cuyler Of the Association Of Rail
way Executives, asserting that ths
executives would at once request the
United States Railroad Labor Board
to authorize 10 per cent cut in ths
wages Of train service employees.
The statement pledged the manage
ment Of the roads to make CORE
spending cuts in rates as soon as the
wage decreases were approved.
Confer With Brotherhoods
While the executives were in session
a request was received from the heads
Of seventeen railroad brotherhoods and
unions asking for conference on the
wage question The request was grant
ed, but after two hours it was apparent
~, l., I J.. i .
getting together.
W. G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, said imme-
diately after the conference: Tho
roads must be crazy to seek new
reduction when the men have just or
ganized a strike over an old wage cut
Later Mr.. Lee said that the dist~ics
chairmen of the unions would receive
their final instructions tomorrow as 20
whether there would be strike. Asked
point blank if strike would be or
dered, he said:
81 will not say definitely, but were
a betting man would place my money
that there will be strike.
"Regardless Of what action is taken,
the final decision IS only a matter Of
the rising and setting OF d few suns.
The district chairmer viii receive their
final orders tomorrow and then viii go
home. Ny chairmen already have been
sent home and Will receive their orders
By mail"
Hints at Early Strike
Asked concerning the reports that q
strike effective October 80 had been
decided upon, M Lee replied:
81 won't answer that definitely, but
if some one has told you that they haze
hit lot of nails on the head perhaps
they are not exactly night, but they are
driving close
Warren S. Stone, president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
commenting on the executives action,
said:
"I am no prophet What viii happen
is more than | can say"
R. s. Binke 4. of the Association of
Railway Executives, said that the trans
portation system was facing one Of its
greatest crises, but he also refused to
make predictions.
Mr.. Cuyler's statement said that
the roads faced an extremely crit
ical situation and felt the only
means Of overcoming the industrial
depression was through measures that
would stimulate trade. A reduction Of
rates without lower wages would mean
bankruptcy. it was said for most Of
the roads had not even approximared
the guaranteed earnings Of 6 per cent,
but the roads would agree 10 rate cuts
in proportion to every drop in the cost
o. labor.
Personnel of Conference
The railroad executives at the con.
ference with Brotherhood cA3e.s were
Z: II. Markham, president Of tho
Illinois Central W. w Atterbury,
vice president OF the Pennsylvania; J.
+. German. pres dent Of the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific; CARL r. cray
president of the Union Pacific. and
Ralph Budd, president Of the Great
Northern.
At the conference union leaders asked
reconsideration Of their request Of as.
July that a l2i2 per cent wage reduc-
tion granted by the Labor Board Dc
not put into effect Immediately; at
no further wage reductions be sougat
at present and that no change be made
IN the overtime pay rate. This request
was refused, and the rail heads pre-
sented their statement announcing tie
proposal TO seek new wage reductions
and not to reduce rates until further
reductions were granted
The decision of the executives to seek
lower wages followed constellation of
numerous plans and proposals regarl-
ing wages ard rates. One proposal
was for an Immediate reduction n
freight rates on ayr gr.cultural conmodi
ties the reduction to be effective fox
sixty or ninety days as a test This
plan met with opposition from a ma
jorlty of the roads, most of thl n
maintaining that they could not eAis.
" tn lower rates
An announcement from the Labor
Board tAat the piece rate system cf
pay had been restored also added 20
the exc tment and brought reports cf
o'ss tisfaction from the unions. Union
chiefs were dubious as to how their
men, 50 per cent cf whom hava au-
thorized a strike rather than acccpt
the recent l2ie per cent wage reAuc-
tioN, would take the various announco-
ments of the da5.
The board to-day handed down
supplemental decision amending seven
teen more rules OF the shop crafts
'greement. The opinion was given in
the case of the Chicago 4 Northwest,
ern Railway Company against the rail