The Washington herald., 1922-04-03
Rail Leaders May Meet
To Discuss Aid TO Miners

CHICAGO. April 2->eaders Of
the powerful railroad unions a..
expected 20 call a meeting TO dis
cuss aid to 5o0.0oO coal miners now
on strike
The call for this meeting prob
ably will be issued by L. J. ManIon.
president OF the order of Railroad
TeleEraphers, il was stated here
today at a big meeting OF rail
union heads The suggestion for
the conference came originally
from Warren s. Stone. grand chief
Of the brotherhood OF Locomotive
Engineers. and he, with Manion.
Is said TO be back Of the move
ment All of the railroad union
leaders have not been sounded on
the proposal as yet. il was stated.
but a decision is expected TO be
reached within a few days.
May Get Financial Aid.
IF the miners ask for our AID
ths meeting will be held" Msnioa
The first object OF the proposed
meeting would be TO get together
on ways and means to give the
miners financial aid. il is stated.
The proposition was reported 10
have been discussed at the con-
ference here today ATTENDED by
leaders OF group three of the ra:.-
road unions, composed Of the tcleS-
raphers. stationary firemen. clerks.
maintenance Of way men and sigma,
men. one of the strongest adv0-
Gates Of giving aid to the miners
was said to be f. II Fitzgerald. pres
ident OF the Brotherhood Of Rail-
way and steamship Clerks. Freight
Handlers. Station and Express Em-
ployes. They also discussed nomi-
nations for a new labor member q.
the Railroad Labor Board 60 sue
ceed Albert Phillips, resigned.
Rail Wen Face Struggle.
The rail unions are already con-
mitted by a pact signed by leaders
of both OF these big induStrisi
forces to aid the miners. This pact
was arrived at in a joint conference
here last month. But IL must be
ratified by all the railroad unions
before IL becomes effective.
Back OF the interest OF the rail
unions I'm the miners fight is
struggle they have on their hands
on the wage and working rule
question. whic his expected TO come
to head in midsummer.
II is expected that the Railroad
Labor Board will hand down a de-
cision, perhaps by July 1. setting
new wage schedules for 1000. O00
railroad employees. and. in addition.
new working rules for the powerful
big four" brotherhoods.
Hns Heard worst Gues.es.-
These questions are before the
labor board now, and while IT Is
pointed out that anything outsid-
of financial support for the miners
at this time would be highly i'm
probable. IL is said that even more
material cooperation Nigh; be
after the comiag wage
decision IL. as expected. IL trims
s2oo.0o0,ooO from the annual wage,
of the railroaders. and providing
that the coal strike is still on.
One rail union chief said thi>
possibility was looking pretty far
afield." but he added that there
have been worse guesses as 20 what
VIC are looking forward to-"
The big four" threatened 20
strike last October when the rail
roads first suggested going to the
labor board for another wage cut.
The railroad executives declared
they were "c-ying before they were
hurt" But the present neEotia-
tions are considering the very prop
ositions which even the suggcs-
tion nearly caused a strike.
Every Rail EapIoye IareI,~d.
Every railroad employc Va tho
cuontry Is involved in the uagc
hearings now on. or pcndinE. bcfo--
the board. In addition. IN board
rule hearings of two OF tho si.-
train service orsantsa lions. after
regional negotiations had failed
and as an index of the
Continued on Paee Too.