The Washington herald., 1922-06-29
Executives Will Discuss
Strike Threat at Meet
ing Today.
READY TODECLINE
WAGE CONFERENCE
Operators Declare They
Are Obeying Labor
Board Decision.

CHICAGO. June 2s.-whiIe there
is believed to be little or no likeli-
hood that the railroads of the coun.
try will agree to negotiate with
their union employees on the deci-
sions of the Railway Labor Board
and thus. according to the union uI-
timatum. avert a nationwide strike
July THE association of railroad
executives will take up the union
strike threat at its meeting here
tomorrow.
A formal reply will probably be
addressed to President Bert NJ
Jewell. of the railway department
Of the American Federation of La
Dor. who teleRraphed T. De witt
Cuyler. chairman of the railroad
executives. that a strike will be
unavoidable" unless the roads con-
tinue wages now in effect and
grant other demands pending neGo-
uations of the questions at issue.
They Outline Railroad Case.
The executives will make a fat
rejection of the union demands. 1t
is believed in railroad circles here.
but IT is thought that the roads
will take this opportunity to out
line their case to get it before the
public.
The railroads are expected tacon-
tend that their position Is uras-
sailable. inasmuch as they are only
abiding by the decision of the Labor
Board. and that IL they were to open
negotiations which would reopen
questions supposed to have been
settled by the boards decision. they
would become partners in ''delin-
quency."
While there was some question
today as to whether JeweIl's ulti-
matum referred to all clauses of
railroad employees whose pay has
been cut or merely the shop crafts
unicns. 1t was generally believed
that although the shopmen may be
the first to walk out on Saturday,
the maintenance of way unions.
clerks. signalmen and stationary
hremen will follow them immedi-
ately. This will take more than
100000 men out of the railroad
service.
Both sides have begun to prepare
for the threatened strike.
To "Fsrrl Out, shop Work.
The r-iIroads. it is learned on high
authority. have perfected their plans
to farm out" their shop work to pri-
vately controlled shops. And a walk
out will mean that every carrier in
the country will soon be operating
under the private control system.
This move to meet the strike. II is
declared. will eventually nullify the
effect Of the walkout OF the 100000
shopmen and will enable the roads
to get the work done for lower wages
and under less liberal working rules
than those allowed by the labor board
At the shop crafts headaua rters
here. the general policies committee
was laying its plans for action. Every
possible step is being taken to make
the strike a success, ii was stated. and
the committee has even gone so far
as to appoint lieutensnts to take the
place Of every leader who might be
taken into custody in the event of
legal action.
Johnston to Direct Strike.
The shopmen's strike will be under
the direction OF William II. Johnston,
president of the railroad machinists,
il was announced
Reports from Detroit. where the
strike vote Of 4OO, 900 maintenance of
way men is being counted and shows
an Overwhelming" desire to strike.
said similar war councils were being
held there.
President Fl. E. Byram. Of the Chi
cago. Milwaukee & St Paul. has ap-
peaIed to the roads $4,000 employees
ito think II over and remain at work"
a strike against the United States
Railroad Labor Boards decision is a
strike against the government" By
ram told them