The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-06-21
Government
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N c&::"1y's;'utIe ;'tI
Railroad Employees to Delay
Fight for Federal Control
Pending Strike Over
Wage Cut.
Urges Lewis for President

Cincinnati, June 20.-(By A. p
Government ownership ana operation
OF the railroads will no, be a" issue
in the threatened strike OF 100000
shop workers and others. spokesmen
ior the rail unions today told the
American Federation OF Labor con-
vcn,ion which responded TO their re-
quest by Withholding a reafirmation
OF the federation's stand in favor OF
the adoption OF such policy.
The rail unions have not aban-
doncd the program OF public owner
ship OF grown lukcwarm or indiiicr-
cnt." declared William II. Johnston.
president OF the machnists union, i'll
explaining the request. I'VE ask no
declaration, however. because VIC
have most u.nfricndly and unsym-
patheic administration at this time.
Our enemies would say if the strike
occurs in the very near future that
the fight was for government owner
ship. believe the strike is cnevit-
able for there is no other way out
and we want the issue clear cut. The
issue is the amcliration OF the
wrongs committed by the railroad
labor board"
Denounce Labor Board.
Similar plans by others. who are
the prospective leaders in the threat
ened walkout, led Max Hayes OF
Cleveland to withdraw his motion for
rcdeclaration OF the government
ownership policy. The question was
injected into the conventions work
when it for a second time during the
day went on record as favoring re-
peal OF the transportation act. in
which connection it denounced the
railroad labor board for its orders.
especially those reducing wages and
changing workinf conditions.
Consideration OF the strike threat
in connection with the. resolution for
repeal OF the transportation act pro-
vokcd the only long discussion OF
the days session, whichswas crowd
ed with business.
Early in the day the convention
was marked by all oral clash be-
tween President John !. Lewis Of
the United Mine Workers and Jo-
seph Lynal, Peoria trades and labor
council, when the latter sought to
force consideration of resolution
congratulating Alexander Howat
and August Dorchy, leaders of Kan
sas miners, 70 rtheir stand against
the Kansas industrial court. The
trouple ended with the convention
refusing to act on the resolution and
its reference to the miners union
for consideration.
Lewis For President
In addition to its big program for
work, the convention was marked by
the beginning of a movement to run
Mr.. Lewis as candidate fr presi-
dent of the federation in opposition
to Samuel Gompers. Although Mr..
Lewis declared he was 'in no sense"
a candidate. efforts were pushed in
his behalf during the day.
During the discussion of repeal ,of
the transportation act Joseph A.
Franklin, president of the black
smiths union, described the railroad
workers as the "only labor group that
is tied to it's job" He declared that
President Harding had told B. NJ.
Jewell, president of the railway en-
ployes department of the federation.
that national agreements had to go"
and he reviewed various decisions
of the labor board, which he said,
annulled these agreements between
workers and the railroads.
Concluding. Franklin said the
unions had given the transportation
act a :s;r trial and that with new
wage reductions to become effective
July !, "thhe men are going to say
for once more that we are not 60
ing to accept the boards decision"
Mr.. Franklin's speech brought
Mr.. Hayes to his feet with the mo-
ton for the declaration favoring gov
ernment ownership, which prompted
Mr.. Gompers, who was presiding, to
inform the convention that such a
declaration had been withheld from
the convention at the request of the
rail union chiefs.