The New York herald., 1922-06-28

the rulings on wages and working con-
ditions by the Federal Labor Board.
While union heads expressed the
veiled hope that the railroad heads
might listen TO their last minute truce
proposal the suppressed excitement and
tense atmosphere around union head
quarters seemed to portend some mo-
mentous action.
II was learned that the general COM
mittee of the federated shop crafts
would continue their meetings to-mor-
row. with the drafting of strike pro-
gram the subject Of their discussions.
Blame for the entire strike situation
was placed squarely on the shoulders of
the railway executives by President Jew
ellis telegram. He declared that the
passage OF the transportation act had
resulted in series of controVersies
between the roads and their employees
which had developed a situation where
iii nearly one million men, or two-thirds
OF those in railroad employ to-day. are
taking strike vote
Beside the shon men. the maintenance
of way laborers, firemen and oilers and
part of the clerks and signal men are
balloting or this strike question.
Rail Events Reviewed.
The telegram reviewed rail events
since the passage of the transportation
act and dwelt strongly on the refusal
of the executives to establish boards or
labor adjustment, provided for In the
act. to settle local or regional disputes
'1t thus became evident early In the
development of the present controver-
sizes" said the telegram. that the pur-
poses of the carriers in dealing with
their employees were:
"First--To organize arrangements Sor
national action in support OF uniform
policies.
"Second--To avoid negotiations with
the employees organized likewise for
national action.
'Thrd--To attempt to impose the ma
tlonal policies of management upon local
organizations OF employees.
''F'ourth-Upon the Inevitable failure
OF such unfair methods of negotiations
to throw upon the railroad labor board
an unintended and impossible burden oil
arbitration"
The message also condemned the
executives for their stand on nationa.
agreements. Wage reductions by the
rliiroad labor board were likewise con-
demned, the disputes coming before the
board the telegram sad because nc
real attempt" was made to negotiate
wage agreements. blu. merely upon the
refusal of the employ ees to sign on the
dotted line"
The wage slash of 1921 and the COM
ing reductions were characterized as
unjust and in violation Of the require
iments of the transportation act"
Overthrow of Precedents.
1.-THE railway executives have been
able by concerted action to induce six
members Of the Labor Board to over
throw the precedents of a generation OF
arbitrations establishing the principle
that the financial obligations of rail-
road do not provide reason for deny
ing TO the workers a just and reason
able wage" the telegram said.
Referring to the farming out griev-
ances of the shop workers, President
Jewell declared the roads. obviously
acting pursuant to prearranged pro-
gram" have contracted work TO out
side firms ito take the men employed
out from under the protection of the
railroad labor organizations and destroy
their effectiveness and to deny the en-
p.uyees such meager protection as the
transportation act might afford them"
1T should be clear that the conduct
of the carriers has operated Intentionally
to create dissatisfaction among the en-
pioyees and TO hamper their collective ef-
forts simply TO maintain reasonable
wages and working conditions" the tele-
gram declared.
The unhappy results OF the rail-
roads policies has shown the decision
or abe employees by "an Overwhelming
majority to withdraw from the service
rather than continue under these intol-
cradle conditions" the telegram ended.