Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-07-05
MAINTENANCE
STRIKE Held
Up FOR PARLEY
WalkOut of Maintenance of
Way Men Has Been
Postponed
LEADER CONFERS
Jewell Holds Conference With Labor
Board-"Outlaws" Railroad Wage
Commission in Awards.

Chicago. July 5.-The threatened
strike of 100000 maintenance-of-way
employees Of the country's railways
was postponed last night pending
further negotiations, Z. f. Cradle,
president of the maintenance Of work
ers, announced after an all-day con-
ference with members of the United
States Railroad Labor Board. The
announcement read:
After most careful considera-
ton of the entire situation we
have reached the conclusion that
it is not wise for our membership
10 leave the service of the carriers
until every resource has been ex-
haustcd that affords hope of a
peaceful adjustment.
The announcement was signed by
Mr.. Cradle, three vice-presidents Of
the union and quorum of the eXecu-
tive board constituting sub-eommlt--
tee of the executive board OF grand
lodge officers.
Besides Mr.. Cradle, Vice-President
J. c. Smock, the following execu-
tive committee members attended the
conference: G. H. Planten, Boston;
W. 3. Roberts, Wilkes Barre, Pa; J.
]. O'Grady, Ottawa; f. L. Enk,
WiKes-Barr and T. Woods, Winni-
peg.
The Labor Board has outlawed "rbt
the organizations of employees. but it.
self" B. NJ. Jewell, head Of the strik-
ing shop crafts unions, declared in a
letter 10 the board answering it's pro-
nunciament Monday declaring the I'M
ion had no more standing before it.
Reiterating the shopmen's position
that the dispute over which the shop
men left their work last Saturday
was with the railroads. Mr.. Jewell de-
clared the board had failed in its me-
diation effort.
The board, he said, "has played it.
self into the position of being an arm
/ of organized financial and employing
interests which are engaged in ma
tionAwide campaign to reduce wages
below the level Of decent living, to
check the rising standard Of living for
| the American workers. to disintegrate
the protective organizations Of the
workers"
The unions, Mr.. Jewell told the
board, are "readv and willing to meet
the carriers and to do all in their
power to reach an adjustment Of the
employees eSievances. BY outIawing
the unions. the letter said, the board
/ has abandoned its effort to fulfill the
duties imposed upon it by law"
Exercising "no desire to promote
any further misguided effort oG the
board to hamper and prevent fair
adjustment of this dispute" the letter
added that the unions would consider
themselves under no further obliga-
tion to the board.
"The board has ATTEMPTED to estab-
lish wages which for large percent
age Of the men concerned will not pro-
vide the minimum amount found by
the Government officials to be neces-
sary to maintain a worker and his
family in a condition Of decent living" "
Mr.. Jewel's letter said.
"When the employees went on strike
over these cuts" says the letter, "the
board attempted TO bring the execu-
tives of the labor organizations into n
hearing on tdc eve Of suspension Of
work" Confusion and disorderly sus-
nonsion would have resulted, Mr.. Jew
ell said. and the executives refused
10 permit themselves tn be drawn
from their posts of duty"