New-York tribune., 1922-07-04

tomorrow he undoubtedly will ask Mr.
Hooper TO induce the Labor Board to
grant an immediate hearing on petit
tions for increases for the maintenance
workers This, it was stated, will be
granted, and the petitions will then be
heard on their merits. If MIR. Cradle
can show sufficient evidence as to a
rise in living costs there is no ques-
tion that the maintenance men will be
granted increases.
May Cripple Walkout
Meanwhile, however. the cuts or
dered by the Labor Board must remain
effective, as it cannot reverse its own
decisions. 1t has been pointed out
that the maintenance men are the most
easily replaced OF. all railroad workers,
and local employment agency reports
are that there is plenty OF unskilled
labor at hand.
A point held up in the maintenance
unions favor is that. by showing that
it is willing to continue TO deal with
the Labor Board. a government tribu-
nal with which It entered into con-
tract to do business, it has placed 1T
self in much better position than
did the shopmen. who went on strike
against the boards decisions and after
Mr.. Jewell refused to appear before
that body when it made last-minute
effort to halt the strike.
Should an agreement with the main
tenance men be effected, with the abo-
ltion of the strike question so far as
they are concerned, this will weaken
the shopmen's walkout considerably.
The chief impediment seen in the stu
alton is possible unauthorized. sympa-
thetic strikes on the. part OF numbers
Of the maintenance workers, some OF
=. i ht1t u
believed that prompt action by the
Labor Board on Mr.. CRADLES proposals
will have salutary effect in this
regard.
Where the maintenance men have
gone out sympathetically. however
they have caused more difficulties than
have tho shopmen. This is because
they are closer to the actual operation
Of traffic than are the shop craft
workers. the labor Of large number
of them being the "heavy work IN
roundhouses and elsewhere.
Figures gwen out as to the number
OF maintenance of way and shop labor
ers at Detroit to-day were that there
are 400, 900 of them. OF these, however
fully 10000 are non-unlon. A large
number of them are foreign-born llllt-
crates, living in box cars along the
right-o way.
"They are likely to flock out IN
strike and flock back to work when
they get hungry" was one estinaate
given.
One effect seen as possible from to-
days action in Detroit may be the
haIting Of plans of the clerks and
signalmen for strike. Al has been
explained in The Tribune, union poll
tics play not unimportant part IN the
situation. The clerks organization
claims 346 900 members and the signal
men $4,000.
Labor Boards Outlaw Edict
The Labor Board resolutions, which
were declared virtually to OUTLAW the
shopmen and their strike, and which
threatened the setting up of rival
unions against them. to be composed OF
men employed to fill their places, fol-
low;
"Whereas, The six organizations
comprising the Federated Shop Crafts
have notified the Railroad Labor Board
that a very large majority Of the en-
nJovees whom they represent have left
the service Of the carriers; that the
members Of said organizations are no
longer employees Of the railways un-
der the jurisdiction Of the Railroad
Labor Board or subject to the appllca-
tion of the transportation act; and
"Whereas. The Brotherhood of Rail
way and Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Express and Station En-
ployees, the United Brotherhood OF
Maintenance of Way Employees and
Railway Shop Laborers, the Interna-
tonal Brotherhood of Firemen and Oil
ers and the Brotherhood OF Railroad
Sirnal,ncn of America also have made
known to the board that they have put
out strike ballots on all or part Of the
carriers, which may result IN the
classes Of employees which they re-
spectively represent leaving the en-
ploy of the carriers; and
"Whereas. in the future submission
of disputes involving rules. wages and
grievances of said classes of employees
Of the carriers, it will be desirable If
rot a practical necessity for the en-
ployees of each class on each carrier
I form some sort of association or
organization to function in the repre-
sentation of said employees before the
railroad labor board, in order that the
effectiveness Of the transportation act
may be maintained,
New Men Urged to Organize
Now therefore be it resolved that
It be communicated to the carriers and
the employees remaining in the serv
ice ana lie new tuPlOSSeS succeeding
those who have left the service to
take steps as soon as practicable to
perfect on each carrier such organiZa-
tions as may be deemed necessary for
the purposes above mentioned, and,
"Be it further resolved, that. on any
carrier, where either of the above
named organizations, by reason Of it's
membership severing their connection
with the carriers, ceases to represent
its class of employees, procedure sim
iar to that above suggested in the case
of the shop crafts is recommended, and
"Be it further resolved, That the
employees remaining in the service and
the new ones entering same be ac-
corded the application and benefit of
the outstanding age and rule decisions
of the railroad board until they are
amended or modified by agreements
with said employees, arrived at in CON
formity with the Transportation Act,
or by decision of this board. and
BE it further resolved, That, if it
be assumed that the employees who
leave the service OF the carriers be
cause of their dissatisfaction with any
decision Of the labor board are within
their rights in so doing it must like :
wise be conceded that the men who
remain in the service and those who
enter it anew are within their rights
in accepting such employment, that
they are not strike breakers seeking