The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-05
Rail Men
Appeal to
Three Brotherhoods Request
Conference With Harding
on Condition Of Locomo.
tives and Equipment.
Ask Immediate Action

Cleveland. Aug. 4.-(By A. P)-
Legislative representatives Of three OF
the four railroad brotherhoods in
Washington were requested by telc-
graph to arrange a conference be-
tween President Harding and the
chief executives OF the brotherhoods
for the purpose OF presenting to the
president their views in connection
with the present strike OF railroad
shopcrafts.
A telegram was sent direct to Pres.
ident Harding by the three local
chief executives of the brotherhood
asking for a conference.
The matter has been under consid-
Grafton since Thursday by Warren
S. Stone, president of the Brother
hood OF Engineers; w. G. Lee, presi.
dent OF the Brotherhood OF Railroad
Trainmen, and D. B. Robertson,
president OF the Brotherhood Of Fire.
men and Enginemen, but because OF
failure to get reply for joint action
from L. E. Sheppard, president of
the Order OF Railway Conductors,
and the other members Of the Big
Four" it was decided to ask for the
conference through the legislative
representatives OF the engineers,
trainmen and firemen.
Seek Immediate Action.
Mr.. Sheppard was telegraphed to-
night that because of the serious sit
uation hourly developing, it was de-
cided to seek the conference imme-
diately.
IF you decide to take similar ac-
ton you can wire your legislative
representative direct" the telegram
said.
The telegram to three legislative
representatives was addressed to H.
E. Wills of the engineers, Arthur ].
Lowell of the firemen and w. N.
Doak Of the trainmen, as follows:
"Cleveland, O.. Aug. 4, 1922:
Referring to our joint telegram
this date, authorizing you to arrange
conference with president. We have
wired the president as follows:
"'The undersigned have this day
wired our national legislative repre-
sentatives at Washington, instructing
them to request a, conference with
you for the purpose of presenting to
you our views in connection with the
present strike Of railroad shopcrafts
which is daily developing into more
serious situation
signed.) STONE, IS ....
\ ROBERTSON"
Flood of Complaints.
Another message to the three legis-
lative representatives signed by the
three chief executives. sent tonight,
gives details for the urgency Of the
conference, made necessary by the
flood of complaints received at
headquarters regarding working con-
ditions on railroads since the begin
ming of the shipments strike, through
brotherhood members being asked to
take out locomotives and equipment
in dangerous and unsafe condition
and of assaults and insults to BROTH
erhood members by armed guards.
The legislative representatives are
requested to file this message with
the president as basis for discus-
sion with him on the questions at
issue. The message follows:
III. E. Wills, Arthur J. Lowell, w.
N. Doak: ...
washington, Aug. 4, 1922.
Complaints in increasing numbers
are pouring into our respective offices
against demands that our men take
out locomotives and equipment which
are in a dangerous and unsafe condi-
ton, in violation of safety statutes
and rules which have been enacted
for the protection of the lives and
property of the public. and Of as
saults on and insults to our members
by armed guards that are placed on
the various railroad properties.
Situation Difficult.
"Up to this time, by constant urg-
ing of neutral attitude, fidelity to
their contracts and in the interest OF
public peace and safety, we have pre-
vailed on our members to continue
their posts. Constant aggravation of
the above conditions and the refusal
Of the railroad executives to accept
the proposals of the president for a
compromise settlement of pending
questions are making the situation
infinitely more difficult to handle.
The plan intention of the railroad ex-
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Railway Shop Carpenter