New-York tribune., 1922-07-26
Board to w ait
For W eakenill,a.
: : : : : e
Ii, Rail Strike
All Media-ory Efforts Held
Up Indefinitely as Men
and Roads Settle Down
Tor Figllt TO the Finish
Carriers Want Free Hand
-------- s-------------
"Give Us 30 Days and We
Will VIM" Lines Declare:
Shopmen's Ranks Firm
BY Gilman Parker

BY Gilman Parker
CHICAGO, July 25.--All official ef-
forts for settlement OF the strike
Of railway shopmen, which came close
to success week ago only to stumble
over the obstacle OF seniority rights.
have been ordered held in allowance in
definitely, it was learned here tonight.
The strike has settled into what is
described as q heel-and-toe fight he
tween the shopmen and the railroads.
The United States Railroad Labor
Board, while it will keep constantly in
touch with the leaders of both sides,
will not indulge in more formal peace
efforts until something breaks in the
situation which, in its opinion. would
again warrant governmental interven-
tion.
From row on, it is declared, the
strike developments may be expected
TO gel hotter and hotter. 1t is only
when enc side or the other shows signs
Of yielding that the board will again
step forward with the proffer of its
good Offices.
VNdth NttEiHOtnS PRESSURE
There is no doubt that the Board
ean act much mere firmly than it has
done, but it has chosen not TO exert
its full powers at present, in the be-
lief that neither side now is in any
mood 30 listen TO reason.
The Importance of this attitude IS
heightened by the fact that President
Harding is Of the opinion that "the
Labor Board remains the only agency
through which the government can and
will deal with the railroad strike stu
alton"
Whenever new unions proposed by
the carriers prove they have q mem
bership OF majority of the men at
work on the roads affected they will
be heard by the Labor Board, mem
no question of recognition, however,
until representatives of these unions
officially appear before the board with
request Cor settlement of disputes with
the carriers. it is said.
Meanwhile, the appeal made by the
railroads to the government and the
public is:
Give US thirty days. and we'll be on
top in this strike"
By this, it was said. the roads do
not mesn they can restore normal
transportation within months time,
but that through the hand to hand
fighting they want 10 carry on they
can keep enough trains moving TO fend
of an industrial crisis, gradually i'm
prove their service by extending their
shop operations with non-union labor,
and frankly. at the end Of thirty
DAYS nave the strike virtually broken.
Industry and the public are already
beginning TO suffer from the strike
Il Is held that fruit growers in many
sections of the country, together with
ether producers and dealers in perish
aoies, are facing disaster, and this is
polne out by the urgent appeals they
are making for cars and the embargoes
on pcrishabies ordered by a number of
the roads.
Some Staples Not Affected
staples. including sugar, are
ro' ted appreciably by the strike,
ana tsere can be no excuse, it is
charged, other than desire to profiteer
for raising prices on articles of this
character. Sugar is mentioned par
tieIlariy because Of the appearance of
advertisements in the Chicago papers.
placed by a chain Of local retail stores
informing customers that heree fter
they will be limited to ten pounds each
on single purchase, because of the
car shortage due to the strike" Such
ing the way for boost in sugar prices.
1here were two other irst class dis
closures IN the rail strike news of the
aey. one was an order sent by tae,
strike leaders in Chicago to Baltimo more
informing the shipments representa-
tiFes there that no separate settlement
with the Baltimore & Ohio would be
Tolerated. This was the first successful
counter offensive of the unions against
bne railroad {oy
fnents, TO which the shopmen are firmly
opposed. The endeavor Of the Balti-
more d Ohio along this line has been
viewed as an entering wedge for gem
erai separate peace moves.
The other development was de-
olsion on the part of the $50 general
enairmen of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way and Steamship Clerks, Freight
handlers and Express and Station EN-
ployees not to call general strike of
tnetr 100000 members, with an implica-
uom also that they will not extend
strikes TO any more roads. At present
the clerks are out only on the Chesa-
peake & Ohio and the Norfolk &
Western.
This decision was reached, it was
sald, as the result of conferences held
oy committee of thirty-fve of the
elerks with Walter j.. McMenimen. a
i.nor member of the Labor Board. One
~ tne main grievances presented was
mat mat there had been too great delay in
ssc,ing on cases brought by the clerks
eefore the board, and it was assumed
mat assurances for rcmedying this
condition were given.
WASHINGTON, July 25.-An agree
Tht meht has been signed at Chattanooga,
isnn., between officials of the Brother
ncod Of Railway Clerks and the South
e efn Railway which definitely averts
sae threatened wslkout OF 5000 clerks
"a she Southern and its affiliated lines,
local officials of the Brotherhood an
houneed tonight
B, q o. Executives Meet