The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-04

lOdEu tOhteht ultSs1ch AeS SAANA ss w some 100000 maintenance of way
 Following a meeting of the execu- tive council of the United Brothers hood of Maintenance of Way Elm ployes and Railway Shop Laborers in Detroit today to canvas a strike vote, 1t was announced that tho threatened strike would be held up pending a conference with the la- Dor board in Chicago tomorrow.
 Members of the board expressed strong hopas tonight that the con- ference would avert walkout. They declared the only question at issue was one of wages and that the way already had been opened for re- consideration of wage reductions, which went into effect on July 1, simultaneously with the shopmen's wRlkout.
 Living Goes Up
 At that Ben w. Hooper, chairman of the board, announced that gov ernment reports indicated an tn- crease in the cost of living since the board rendered It's wage reduc- ton decisions and that this could be made the basis of an immediate appeal to the board by the employees for wage increases. Union leaders were quoted today as demanding only that the board hold up its wage cuts pending the appeal. The differ ence 1t was declared, was slight and the belief was expressed that the gap would be bridged without strike.
 Meanwhile conflicting claims con- tinued regarding the number of men involved in the walkout of the shop men. Neither the union leaders or the railway managers would give any figures, but B. M. Jewell. reiter- ated previous statements that the strike was practically 100 per cent perfect. The railway executives, on the other hand declared that traffic was being continued practically without Interruption ana repeatea their assertions that tho efficiency of the roads would not be seriously impaired by the walkout for sey- eraI weeks and perhaps months, New workers were being recruited 70 take the places of the strikers and the opinion of the rail heads was unanimous that there would be no Interruption of transportation-
 Union leaders predicted that ths ranks of the strikers would pc augmented by the action of Timothy Healys president Of the Stationary Bremen and Oilers, who, today sent telerrams to his local unions telling them the men have "a perfect right to strike now" If they so desire. The messages were sent in answer to in- quiries asking authority to join the shopmen MT. Healy said that about half of the stationary firemen al- ready had quit work.
 The outlaw" order issued, etc.. as sent.
 .OutIav orders
 "The outlaw" order issued by tho labor board today followed a state- ment by MT. Hooper last week. that "bIood would be upon Mir. Jewelrs head" ignoring the boards order to appear before 1t and justify his strike order. The order said in parts
 "If it be assumed that the em- ployes who leave the service of the carrier because of their dissatisfac- tlon with any decision of the labor hoard are within their rights, it must also be conceded that the men who remain in the service and those who enter 1t anew are within tner rights in accepting such employ ment that they are not strike-preak- AeeklnE to lHlPOot ttc e-s " >%"- will of an employer on employees, that tbev have the moral as well as the legal right to engage in such ser- vice of the American public to avoid fnterruption of indispensable railway transportation and that they are en- titled to the protection of every de- partment and branch of the govern ment.
 During the day the board receivei an inquiry from w. B. ONeil. presi- dent of the International Associeuon of Railroad Supervisors of Me- chanfcs. who asked what his men should do If called on to pre1orm tne duties Of ,shopmen.
 Mir. Hopper, in letter replied:
 The board is of the opinion that the members of your organization should not be required by carriers with whom you have agreements 10 perform duties other than the super visors' work as,within the scope of your duties, unless such performance is purely voluntary"
 Day Is Quiet
 The third day of the shopmen's strike passed in comparative quies, although. a slight disturbance was reported at Perry, Iowa, where 20 laborers brought. In from Chicago for shop work. were stoned and run our of town. c. E. Johnson. general man ager of the Kansas City Southern. reported to the labor board during the day that one of his assistants had been assaulted by strike sym pathizers at Leesviile. La. while re- pairing an air hose.
 In the larger cities police guards were reported to have been thrown about railway property, while the Chamber of Commerce of Kans,s City. Mo. following a special meet Ing, telegraphed a request to Cover nor Hyde. asking him to call out the