Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-05
GO|NPERS REVIEWS
PLEDGE Of SUPPORT
To RAIL STRIKERS
Association of Railway Ex-
ecutiveS' Report Shows
Bad Order Freight Cars
Decreased During Week

WASHINGTON, Sept. Shy the
Associated Press. A renewed
pledge of sympathy and support to
the fullest extent within our pow
er" was given to the striking rail
way shopmen Saturday by President
Gompers, of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. s.,
Without making direct mention Of
the Chicago injunction proceedings,
or discussing in detail its possible
consequences, the labor leader tele-
sraphed to B. M. Jewell, head of
the federation's railway employees
department, announcing it had been
decided to ratify and emphasize" a
previous pledge of support by the
labor legislative representatives of
the national organization.
The telegram, sent after a confer
ence of the legislative representa-.
tives, constituted virtually the only
comment on the strike to come from
signed by Mr.. Gompers, as chair
man of today's conference, at which
it was indicated that the restrain
ing order issued at Chicago was
studied.
Road representatives and officials
of the government likewise We're re-
ticent in discussing the injunction
suit. Although for three hours the
senate gave it's full attention to coal
distribution legislation drafted to
meet the strike emergency, there
was not a mention of the Chicago
proceedings, and executive officials
indicated that they preferred to let
the attorney generals injunction Pc
tition speak for itself.
AS bearing on the strike situation
generally the Association of Rail-
way Executives announced that de-
spite the absence of the striking
shopmen from their jobs, the num-
Der of freight cars in need of re-
pairs decreased 9,43S between Au-
gust 1 and August Is. !.
Although the total on the latter
date was 1892 above the figure for
July 1, when the strike began, the
number listed as needing attention
August Is was 335,757, or 14.S per
cent of the whole number on all
lines.
The associations statement did
not cover the condition of motive
power, nor did it show how many
of the cars out of commission were
of coal carrying types. 1t was said
at the organizations headquarters
however, that association reports
from throughout the country 1ndl-
Gated that there were upward or
100000 surplus coal cars in good
condition.
No Power to Call Strike
1t was said at labor federation
Headquarters that Mr.. Gompers
telegram to Mr.. Jewell was all the
federation president cared to add to
his statement of yesterday IN Whlch
he pronounced the Chicago restrain
ing order an Outrageous" invasion
of the rights of organized labor, ana
declaring the unions would STAND on
their constitutional guarantees OF IN
dustrial freedom.
In view of talk of a possible gen
eral strike, it again was pointed out
today that the American Federation
action. although it was said a num-
Der of petitions and resolutions from
local unions and others advocating
a nationwide walkout would be
laid before the meeting of the red
eration's executive council, to be
held here next Saturday.
The telegram sent by President
Gompers to Mr.. Jewell tonight was
as follows:
cat the meeting of the labor
legislative representatives, July 81,
a resolution was adopted conveying
to you and through you to the strik
ing railway shopmen the pledge of
our sympathy and support to the
fullest extent within our power.
cat the meeting of the same con-
ference this evening it was decided
to ratify and emphasize the declara-
ton made July Fl and pledge anew
our sympathy and support and the Z
best wishes for the success of the
striking railroad shopmen in the
of their just cause"
In its statement regarding the
condition of freight cars the Asso-
citation of Railway Executives said:
Reports just received from the
railroads of the United States
by the car service division of the
American Railway association, show
that 335,575 or 14.8 per cent Of the
freight cars on line were in need
Of repair August Is.
"This was an increase Of 1892
cars over the total number of
freight cars in bad order July 1,
when the strike began, at which
lime there were 324,5S3 cars, or 14.3
Der cent.
Compared with August 1, this
vas decrease of 9,438 cars. On
hat date 345,013 cars were in bad
'rder, or 1873 per cent of the cars
IN line.
"The total number of bad order
reight cars August Is, last, was
1866 less than the total in need Of
epairs on August Is, 1921, and 5.247
ass than June l, 1922, at which
ines no strike of railway EMPLOYEES
we're in progress.
These I tabulations are based on
Continued on Paoa CoI,,,>, ~