Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-03


order throughout the country, quit
their work, picked up their tools put
on their coats and shook hands with
thelr foreman and walked out.
The walk-out had been scheduled
Tor 10 A. NJ. but at that hour moth
ing happened, because the actual
strike order was delayed and did not
arrive until just before the time
mentioned.
About $50 men went out. There
are left behind. not counting the
foremen. who belong to the fore
mems union and have no part in the
present controversy, about IA men.
including few carpenters and men
with a very long rating and near the
pension age.
AS stated in Saturdays Journal
the strike vote was carried in Wa
terville by about the same ma iority
as for the rest of the country, ac-
cording to statements by union Of
ficers.
One theory Of the strike and the
action of the Railroad Board which
led to it. was discussed somewhat
at length yesterday. and it vas de-
clared that the Government officials
nave forced the issue with a view
to putting the mon back on a more
equitable basis.
1t was stated that union rules
make no class distinction between
n machinist, for instance, and a ma
chinists helper. During the war
many of these helpers. through four
years of service, became machinists
though doing only the work of a
helper, solely by reason of the fact
that they had held their places for
four years. This gave the helpers
the same pay AS the machinists AID
greatly increased the shop payroll
throughout the country. The ltjuc-
ton of wages, it is charged was
brought about for the purpose Of
bringing on a strike, and giving the
railroads the opportunity or unload
ing the men they do not want. end
hiring back, on a new basis, the men
they desire. Just how much the. o
IS TO this idea it would he difficult
to determine: but there appeared TO
be wide difference Of opinion am -ng
journal talked yesterday.
Many are frankly for tie strike
and are in favor of holding out 70
the last ditch. Others point to the
local strike of 1917, as having given
little real advantage to the men
after IA weeks of loafing. Mon who
have been in the employ of the rail-
road for many years are fearful of
losing their rating and their trans
portation privilege, which is some
thing of an item, if a man has a
large family.
On the other hand, there are thos,
who believe that the great railroad
crafts should stick together, and that
local shopmen should not go ba elk
on the rest of the craft clscW here
who may not be SO we'll situated.
The local shops. even if there had
been no strike, were to have shut down
anc the Fourth of July falling with
only one working day between: that is,
they were to have closed Saturday aft
crnoon instead of Saturday noon, and
not opened until Wednesday morning.
AS it is now, the first test of tn )
real strength of the strike Locally, oar-
ring settlement by the national Off
Gers. will come Wednesday mornus
when an attempt will be made to .'e-
open the shops with such help as can
be secured. 1t was stated Saturday
THAI forcmen have been instructed &c
hire anybody capable of doing the lob
assigned them. Railroad officials were
confident that they would be able to
secure enough men to operate on a re-
the general rerair work that comes in.
Tho Maine Central is said to have
considerable number of perfectly good
cars in storage-not quite SO well
equipped a. tn ,se in general use on the
best trains. buI in perfect order and
instantly available to replace cars that
ar, out of order. OF course this is but
the !,ostponem mt of the inevitable day
OF re clloning, when the last reserve car
has been brought out Of storage: but
in the meantime necessary repair work
can be done with a reduced crew, it is
cort ended.
There was much discussion on the
street yesterday relative to the attitude
of the maintenance of way employees.
WHO in the beg ming were supposed
10 be in the >1,ke NOV 7oIt. Strife
leaders are said to have predicted that
they will Join the movement at an
early day, and there were few
brotherhood mer, not yet involved. who
admitted that hey were looking for
something to drop from the national
officers of Their organizatio If the
engineers, firemen. conductors ana
trainmen should JOIN the strike, those
larger centers like New York. some
III d.. 6. " a hours en-
wc.:l1 be in dire STRAITS. it
was argued. kut with the trains run
nins as usual though under more
tn.tr usual load Of traffic, tho end Of
the battle is not in sight.
A call was issued Saturday night
for all members of the shop crafts to
meet in American Legion hall at 3
O'Clock this morning, and it is expect
ed hat tn, will be interesting Ce-
yelopments from this meeting.
Holiday Schedule at Post Office