The Colorado statesman., 1922-07-08
SHOPMEN WILL
ENTER PARLEY
RAIL UNIONS ARE WILLING TO
CONFER ON PROPOSALS FOR
PEACE.
SETTLEMENT IS seen
MR.. HOOPER OF THE LABOR
BOARD DENIES "oUTLAW"
CHARGES.

Chicago-Hope for the speedy set
Element of the countrywide strike of
the railway shopmen was seen in
statements issued by Ben w. Hooper,
chairman of the United States rail-
road labor board, and B. NJ. Jewell,
leader of the shopcrafts, VINO ordered
the walkout.
In reply to a letter from Mr.. Hoop
er, which was regarded as concilia-
tory in tone, Mr.. Jewell declared that
the strikers were willing to consider
any negotiations with anyone in au-
thority for settlement of the strike.
1--WE are willing to confer with any
body authorized by the railroads to
bring peace proposals to u.s." said
Jewell. l include or exclude no.
body, but If the labor board, for in
stance, came to us with a definite
proposition we would not hesitate to
consider it,
Mr. Jewell then made public for the
first time the exact figures on the
strike vote taken by the 100000 men,
bers of the six shopcrafts. The vote
was divided into three separate bal
lots, the first on accepting a $500,000,-
600 reduction in wages ordered by
the labor board, the restoration of
seven working rules altered by the
board, and, third, the abolishment of
outside contracting by the roads.
A tabulatiOn of the ballots, Mr..
Jewell said, showed 94.7 per cent of
the men had voted to strike on the
question of wages, the heaviest vote
for strike being on the question
of outside contract labor which polled
9I.1 per cent of the vote cast. The
ballot on rules came second with 962
for strike. Union le>Sers said that the
vote indicated the relative Importance
attached to the three points at issue
by their membership.
In railroad circles it was declared
that the way had already been cleared
for a full settlement on the gravest
issue-that of contract work-by the
agreement of twelve roads to abolish
outside contracting at the labor board
meeting when Mr.. Jewell ignored an
order to appear and explain his strike
order.
Mr.. Jewell said that the interven-
ton of the board had come too late
and that the only way to prevent dis
orders was for him virtually to defy
the board, and thus let the rank and
file of the six shopcrafts organizations
involved know that their leaders had
their hands on the brakes and were in
full control of the situation.
Mr.. Jewell declared that his state
ment was in the nature of an expla-
nation of labors side of the situation
and that he was not receding from
any of the original demands made
upon the railways. The statement
was interpreted in railway circles,
however, as clearing a way to a set
tlement by negotiation, the previous
understanding being that Mr.. Jewell
would refuse to deal with the labor
board and would insist on negotia-
tiOns direct with the carriers.
Mr. Hooper, in his letter to Mr.
Jewell, denied the latter's charge that
the labor board was unfriendly to the
employees or that it had "outlawed'
the strikers. ut has only accepted
your own statement that the striking
men are not now employees of the car
riers," the letter said. "It has not,
however, used the rasping word out
law at any time"