Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-29
ORDER TO Strike
IS SENT SH0PMEN
Involves 400, 900 Rail Workers
Throughout Country and Is
Effective Saturday
BOARD MAY HALT WALK0UT
Bv Associated Press

Chicago, June 20.-Railroad mainte-
nance OF way men were reported to have
quit in West Chicago today without
awaiting receipt Of strike orders. 1t
was said the men deserted in droves,"
leaving many crossings unguarded.
Mayor Edward ]. McCable, Of West
Chicago, has sworn in number Of
special policemen to guard railroad
property.
Strike orders signed by the six craft
presidents Of the railroad shopmen's Or
ganizations were sent out today to gen.
erai chairmen representing. 400, 900 men,
/ ION all railroads and Pullman shops
in the United States.'
The impending walkout makes Satur.
day a momentous day in the railroad
world. On that date the $400 600 900
Interstate Commerce Commission be-
comes effective, simultaneously with a
slash OF $135, 900, 900 from the wages
Of railway workers ordered by the United
States Railroad Labor Board. The pay
of the shopmen was cut $50 ZOO, 900.
In spite Of the impending walkout
from the shops and the tracks, rail
officials declared transportation would
continue to move, because train service
employees who constitute the "big four"
brotherhoods, switchmen and telegra
piers, are not parties to controversies
over wages and working rules.
The shopmen's strike is in protest
against the wage reductions, the abol-
ishment Of rules by the Railroad Labor
Board, and the farming out Of shop
work to contractors. Maintenance Of
way men balloted solely on the wage
reduction.
Letters Of instruction regarding the
progress and conduct Of the strike were
being prepared at general headquarters
here today and were to be mailed out
tonight.
strings attached" said 3. M. Jewell,
president of the railroad unions Sec
ton Of the American Federation OF La
Dor. 1T Is up to the railway execu-
tives at their meeting today. They can
stop this strike today or tomorrow, but
after Saturday at 10 o'clock 1t is all
off. The telegram of the union heads
to Cuyler Is the unions last word.'
The general committee Of ninety gen.
eral chairmen today were on the way
to their home districts to take active
charge of the strike. A sub commit =
tee remained at headquarters to direct
operations.
MelnDeTb OF tne uSsOCldtlOn OI Tdll-
way executives under the Craftsmanship
Of 7. De Witt Cuyler, to whom the
shopmen's ultimatum was addressed,
were to meet here today in response to a
call issued several weeks ago, but the
program Of their conference was not
announced.
While union heads refused to dis
cuss the strike call, it was said state
ment would be issued later in the day.
No provisions have been made for call
ing off the strike in event Of an accept
able settlement. 1t was understood, but
instructions being prepared for district
leaders will include such arrangements
later on telegraphic instructions.
A conference between railroad ex-
ecutives and union leaders was declared
possible, not so much in any hope Of
reaching an agreement, but as vehicle
for carrying the disputes Immediately
to the labor board, which saved the
nation from rail strike last October.
by the formality of an announcement
that the roads and unions could reach
no agreement, the labor board, 1t was
pointed out, could take jurisdiction as
1t did in the threatened strike Of the
Big Four brotherhoods last fall
Cleveland, June 20.-(By A. P.)-
Engineers and trainmen, members OF
the railroad brotherhoods with head
quarters in this city, will continue to
perform their regular duties, and will
not take the places or do the work of
any railroad employees on strike in con-
nection with the strike of the shop
crafts called for Saturday morning,
chiefs Of these brotherhoods advised the
members Of their organizations today.
Warren S. Stone. president of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
and William G.. Lee. president Of the
Brotherhood Of Trainmcn, issued in
structions to this effect to all members
of their organizations today. w. s.
Carter, president of the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen,
was absent from the city today, but 1t
was expected officials at local headquar-
ters would issue similar instructions to
frcmen.