Arizona republican., 1922-06-19
STRIKE WILL
BE CARRIED.
OUT IF VOTED.
SAY LEADERS.
u n ion Chieftains Serve
Notice On Labor Board
Of Intention To Go On
Through With Decision

CINCINNATI. Ohio, June 1S.-For-
NAL notice was served tonight on the
railroad labor board by the chiefs of
ten railroad unions of their intention
to go through with a strike in event
one is authorized by the 1,225,000
workers whose wages are to be re-
duced on July under orders of the
board.
Coupled apparently with the action
of the rail union leaders was a state
ment that the railroad workers have
no alternative except to fight" made
by John l.. Lewis, leader of the strik-
ing coal miners. who will meet with
the rail union leaders Tuesday to con-
slider joint strike action. He also
pledged the miners aid to the rail men
but declined to state definitely what
aid might result from joint action.
The notice sent to the railroad labor
board. in the form of a letter. re-
iterated the rail union leaders atti-
tude on the threatened walkout which
was first definitely asserted in their
statement issued here Thursday night.
The previous statement also included
the declaration that an overwhelming
vote was being cast for the walkout.
In their letter to the board, the rail
men said:
The Injunction
When there occurs a miscarriage OF
justice IF such colossal and perman-
ent injury to railway labor as your
decisions will bring about the only
means of remedy. which the injured
parties have, is to refuse to accept
your decisions. This procedure is per-
fectly legal. While it should only be
used as last resort, our membership
may decide it to be fully justified by
your denial of elementary and long
established rights and by the serious
ness of the situation which you have
created. Your decisions have been
submitted to a strike vote of our
members and we are awaiting the re-
suits Of their action. Should our
members decide not to accept your
decision. or in other words to strike.
we shall sanction their action and
advise you accordingly"
The letter was signed by r, NJ.
Jewell. president, and John Scott,
secretary of the railroad employees
department of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor and the heads of the
ten railroad unions. Mr.. Lewis. the
miners chief. while asserting unwil
ingness to discuss the outcome of the
coming conference with the rail men,
said the miners will do anything that
is helpful and constructive for the
railroad men and for the miners
themselves"
'I am convinced declared Mr.
Lewis. that the railroad men and the
rank and file of the railroad orgapiza-
tions frankly recognize the necessity
of making a fight regardless of the
consequences. And in that fight, they
will have the whole souled and active
cooperation of the mine workers"
No Appeal Possible
The presidents of the railroad
unions said in their letter TO the labor
board that they had done everything
to avert strike, pointed out that no
appeal was possible from the board 5
decisions, and re-stated the union S
contention that the transportation law
required a living wage for employees
at the bottom Of the scale Of occupa-
tons with higher rates for other
workmen. according to the skill, haz-
ard of employment, responsibility.
training and experience.
In making wage reductions, the
board was told that it had established
the principle that Just wages must
await the complete satisfaction Of
railroad ownership in the matter of
rehabilitation. and profits" Further
the board was told that in its last
decision cutting the wages of clerks
signalmen and stationary firemen it
had stated as a basis of action the
theory that labor can not be COM
pletely freed from the economic laws
which likewise affect the earnings of
capital"
CLEARLY this means nothing more
or less" the letter said, than the
treatment of labor as a commodity
whose value fluctuates according to
the demand for and the supply of
labor"
AS the result of the boards de-
cision. the letter said, the lowest en-
ployes have been degraded below
level of bare animal subsistence and
the earning capacity of the employees
in the higher grades had been reduced
'.below standard of healthful and
decent living"