Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-01
100000 Shopmen
Out in r. r. Strike
Continued from PAGE Ono


tober, said JEWELS belnted appearance
under subpoena could not at such a late
hour result in any reversal OF the strike
order In time to prevent a suspension
az work.
One Issue Eliminated
Railway executives who answered the
boards summons ana appeared at yes
terday's conference virtually removed
one Of the strike issues when. one by
one. many OF them whose roads had
been following the practice. announced
that they would abolish the contract
system in their shops. The board. in
several cases brought by employees
against the roads, ruled that the car
riers were violating provisions Of the
transportation act in farming out work
TO contractors.
As the strike loomed inevitable rail.
road officials declared that the public
would scarcely be aware of the walk
out except through reading about 1t.
Transportation would continue unin-
terrupted, they asserted and in some
centers It was indicated that shops
would bc operated on an oUcn shop
basis. Definite word from hcadQuar-
ters of the maintenance Of way en-
ployes at Detroit early today that the
track workers would remain at work
until July 3. AZ least, pending confer
ences. left the shop crafts alone in the
walkout today.
~ IL, lo
tract system tho New >'ork Central
made its agreement on;- as n means Of
avoiding strike. Counsel for the road
asserted that the New York Centra.
considered the practice legal.
Although eleventh hour efforts by the
Railroad Labor Board to prevent
shopmen' strike apparently had failed
some hope of accomplishment toward
forestalling strikes of other classes Of
railway workers was seen as result of
yesterdays conference.
Three of the ten union chiefs who
were summoned before the board put in
their appearance when the meeting con.
vened. They were f.. +. CRADLE. prc>i-
dent of the Maintenance of Way en-
ployes; +. II. Fitzgerald, Of the rail.
way clerks and i-eigh. handlers, and
D, W. Hclt, of the Sicualmcn.
Timothy Hcaly. head of the Oilers
and Stationary Engineers. who refused
to attend the meeting until served with
a subpoena. issued at the same time
the Jewell writ was ordered. said that
5000 of the H5 900 members Of his or
ganization were voting strike ballots re-
turnable July 10.
Hope Seen in Maintenance Men
Delay in strike orders for mainte.
nance Of way employees brought hope
that the Labor Board could avert
walkout by the trackmen. Mr.. Ora.
BILE, it was pointed out, might assume
the same role in the present situation
that was played by w. &. Lee. prcsi.
dent of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmcn. when a general rail strike
threatened to tic UP transportation last
year.
With Chairman Hoppcr as the guild
ing genius and W. l.. MrNlenimcn, one
Of the three labor members Of the board,
as the chairman's right-hand man.
hope was expressed in railroad circles
today that Mr.. Grahlc could be per-
suaded against calling the trdckmen
out
From the East came reports that the
walkout in and about Greater New
York would virtually he 100 per cont.
Other points reported the following
number of shopmen ready to lay down
their tools: Memphis 2oOn Nashville,
1900; Montgomery. 500; New Orleans,
2100; Louisville. 300 ,Paducah. Ky,
1000; Omaha, 5000; CrcStion. Iowa,
800 Des MoincS HOO.
Special motorized details of police
we're assigned BY Chief Filzmorris for
duty in districts situated near the Chi
cago railroad shop. to prevent an: pos
sible disorders growing out of the strike.
Points which received special att"n-
t1on included tho Pullman shops.
II don't anticipate troubl"." the chief
said. because ! bcli"v" the unions
realize the value of IN orderly strike.
The measures we hav" taken are only
the usual preventative orders which
are issued previous to Gll large walk
outs. II there is no trouble the pres
ence OF police will not hurt anything
II there is trouble they will be on the
SPOT for duty"
In his communication 10 the labor
bonrd intimGting his intention to ig
more its summons 10 appear at yea
terday's conference and questioning the
authority of til" board to int"rvont and
impose conditions on the shopmen, Mr..
Jewell declared that union leaders were
doing everything in their power for n
peaceful and orderly suspension Of
work.
Washington. July 1.-NBy 4. P.l-
The 100000 union railroad shop work
ers called out on strike today in pro-
test of decisions of the Railroad Labor
Board faced the determination Of the
Administration To stand squnrely be-
hind the board and uphold its authority
as a legal component Df the Federal
Government.
The Labor Board "is the Govern.
mtnt when it speaks" was the language
used by White House spokesman yes
terday in declaring the Administra
tion's determination to back up that
agency In all decisions. whether they
threw the protest Of labor organizations
because they involve wage cuts or Of
railroad managements because they for
bid contracting for repair work with
private shops. AS the one agency Of the
Government with authority delegated
by Congress 10 deal with disputes be-
tween the railroads and their employees,
tho boards DEGREES, the Administration
spokesman further asserted. must and
would be backed up by the Govern
ment.
Coming n few minutes before what
Chairman Hooper. Of the Labor Board,
. declared TO be the houting Of a Gov :
ernmcnt body in the refusal Of Is. NJ,
Jewell, head Of the railway depart :
ment of the American Federation OF
Labor, and some Of his colleagues ia
answer summons of the board, the
Administration pronouncement left un-