The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-07-06
RAILWAY STRIKE
BELIEVED To BE
NEARING |TSEND
Feeling Today That Peace May
Be Soon Established
DESPITE SOME DISORDER
Exchange of Letters Between
Heads of Labor Board and
Union Indicate Settlement

Chicago, July y. Wy tue hssONi"t
ed Press) The strike OF the railway
shopmen assumed Il more concllia-
tory aspect today and feeling became
more general in the rail circles that
the last twenty-four hours had shown
a trend toward peace despite the IN
creased disorder at scattered points.
II was believed yesterday that the
exchange of letters between Chair'
man Hooper OF the United States
Railroad Board, and y. NJ. Jewell,
Head OF the Railway Employees De-
partment OF the American Federation
Of Labor, probably opened the way to
the early settlement OF the contro'
yersy.
Chicago, July G.-IIope for the
speedy settlement Of we country
wide strike of the railway shopmen
was seen last night in statements is
sued by Ben w. Hooper, chairman OF
the United States Railroad Labor
board, and B. NJ. Jewell, leader of the
shop crafts, who ordered the walk.
out.
Jewell made public the exact fig
ures on the strike vote taken by the
100000 members OF the six shop
crafts. The vote was divided into
three separate ballots, the first on
accepting a $50.00O,0O0 reduction in
wages ordered by the labor board, the
second restoration of seven working
rules altered by the board, and the
third on Che abolishment OF outside
contracting by the roads.
The tabulation showed only 94.7
per cent OF the men had voted To
strike on the question of wages the
heaviest vote for a strike being on
the question of outside contract la
Dor, wblch polled 97.1 per cent of the
vote cast. Tho ballot on rules came
second with 96.2 for strike. Union
leaders said that the vote displayed
the relative Importance attached Z
4 three points at issue by the
membership.
In railroad circles 1t was declared
that the way already had been clear
ed for full settlement on the grav
est issue--that of contract work-bl
the agreement of 12 roads to abolish
outside contracting, at the labo
board meeting last Friday.
Jewell said that so far he had re
ceiyed no overtures looking toward
settlement and had made none. HI
added that the strike vote was tn
most representative ever taken, bu
did not name total figures.
Hooper in his letter to Jewell eal
ly in the day denied the latter
charge that the labor board was ur
friendly to the employees or that
had "out-lawed the strikers. 1T ha
only accepted your own statemen
that the striking men are not the en-
ployes of the carriers the lette
said. 1T has\ not, however, used tn
rasping word outlaw at any time"
After citing numerous instances
whitl the board has upheld collectiy
bargaining and ruled in favor of tn
unions, the letter adds:
81 am yet hopeful that your organ
2atlon will recover their equilibrium
and discern that it is better for thel
to go along with the railroad labC
board, patiently when 1t makes mi
takes. but confidently at all time
that it profoundly desires to do ju
ice to the men, the roads and tn
public without fear, favor or affec
ion" DIS
Jewell declared that this statemel
was In the nature of an explanatio
of labor side of the situation ar
that he was not receding from al
OF the original demands made upC
the roads. The statement was inte
preted in raj way quarters, howeye
as clearing the way to a settlemel
by negotiation, the previous unde
standing being that jewell would I
fuse to deal with the labor board al
would insist on negotiations dire
with the roads.
A settlement along these line
however was made fficult becau
Of the roads insistence that they hi
no part in the dispute, declaring
was entirely matter between d
government and the strikers, as L
walkout was directed against ? dec
ion of the board