, 1922-06-29
Union Leaders Warn That They
Will Order Rail Strike if
Men Vote for It.
GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT IT
President Harding Gives Labor Board
Full Support-Tarif Precedes Bonus
In Senate-Conference On Russia
at The Hague-De Valera Is
lrreconcilable.
BY EDWARD W. X

IF THE railway maintenance or way
i workers, shop men n members OF
other unions that are balloting on the
question of a walkout, vote for a strike
on July !, the officials of h unions
will sanction 1t. In hat case the I'M
ions will find themselves In direct con-
fiict with the government, for Presi-
lent Harding has let 1t be known that
he will, to the full extent of his pow
er, back up the federal railway b
board, whose adjustments Of wages as
provided by the transportation act
have brought on the crisis. The Pres
ident and the cabinet are keeping in
close touch with the developments. and
all agencies Of the government will be
employed to prevent a strike II possible
and to render II ineffective II 1t does
come.
The stand of the union leaders was
set forth In q long statement to the
labor board In which the decisions of
that body were denounced and warn
ing was given that the strike would he
called II the men so voted. Ben w.
Hooper. chairman OF the board, replied
to this with charges that the union off,
Gals had distorted and m%isconstrued
In boards decisions In a manner to
misled the men. and he cited Instances
of this distortion.
"A strike OF railway employees"
said Mr.. Hooper's letter. Involving
their wages. their employment and
their welfare. based upon such mis-
laadtn0 ctafnrnnpto Of this hon rI,c CON.
timents and declarations. would be
unjust to the men and to the public"
So far as the shop crafts are con-
cerned. one of the three reasons for
desiring a strike may be removed with
In a few days. This is the practice
Of farming out shop work under the
contract system. The labor board has
been considering II complaints filed
against various roads and its findings
are said to be almost ready for an
nouncement. Hearings In 30 other
cases are now being held. Early in
MAY the board decided such n ease
against the Indiana Harbor Belt rail.
road. the principles II enunciated then
being. briefly. that such contracts
''viointe the spirit and purpose Of the
transportation act. and In effect set
aside the wage decisions OF the rail-
road labor hoard to which the carrier
was n party and which the carrier put
into effect"
Railway executives generally are OF
the opinion that. though the men prob
ably will vote for n strike. Il will not
be ordered: and they say that II II is.
transportation will not be seriously
crippled. The train handling forces.
including engineers. fremen. conduct
ors and switchmen, are not involved In
the controversy.
TN THE American Federation Of In.
1 Dor convention In Cincinnati n reso-
repeal OF the Cummins-lssch trans.
porfation act. with nm amendment
favorlng government ownership Of the
railways. At the request of the rail
union chiefs the resolution was laid
aside. w. II. Johnston. president Of
the machlnlsts. said: Not for a single
moment have we abandoned tho pro
gram OF government ownership. Blu
the present administration Is I'M
frsendly 10 MS and we thought that II
would he lnadvlsable 10 press the mat
ter NJ this time. Our enemies would
charge fhnt the forthcoming strike
wns called To force the government TO
take control of the railroads. We want
that issue 10 he clean cut"
The specinl committee OF the A. r.