Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-08-04
Railroad Labor is Planning Campaign On Esch Cummns
Law Which VIII be Far-Reaching-R Roads Ask
President For Same Protection Given Mines
RAIL UNIONS INVITED TO CONFERENCE
President of Teegraphers' Union Suggests Meeting of
Twelve BrOtherhOOds to Discuss Situation
Plan Meets Approval of Grand Chiefs
Generally

forces will collapse all down the line
and pave the way to a settlement of
the strike on the terms of either par
r.. The chances are strong that con-
ditions will become much worse.
The one fresh proposal of the day
was that the Government give the
railroads, in their efforts to operate
despite the strike, the same guarantee
of military protection that was given
the mine operators following the col
lapse of the Presidents compromise
proposals in the coal strike. Repre-
yentatives of the roads have carried
the suggestion to the President and
he will consider it with his advisers.
Mr.. Harding will discuss the sit
uation today with his Cabinet 1t is
very doubtful that out Of the session
will come any plan of an affirmative
nature. even one to be put into effect
after time has been allowed for the
settling of the dust stirred by the Pres
ident's recent compromise proposals.
1t is more likely that a negative poll
icy OF wait and see" will be the fruit
ion of the session.
Chicago, Aug. 4.-E. J Mannion, of
st. Louis, president of the railway
telegraphers, has sent letters to the
heads of ~ railroad unions not on
strige, suggesting a meeting to discuss
the growing tendency to involve their
men in the shopmen's strike, it was
learned here yesterday.
Mr. Manion's letter, it was learned,
pointed out that the members of the
II unions still at work had many
problems in relation to the strike and
suggested the advisability of con-
ference of the u grand chiefs, in
cluding heads of the four big broth
erhoods, 80 consider strike develop
ment and possible action"
Manion said that he preferred not
to make public his letter. He said,
however, that he had suggested a
meeting of the organizations to con-
slider the relation of the unions not on
strike to the shopmen's walkout.
He asserted that he proposed the
meeting primarily to discuss wide
spread reports of dissatisfaction
among railroad workers not on strike.
who. he said, were being requested to
perform the duties of striking en-
ployes.
Declaring that a large number of
members of the 12 organizations to
which he sent the letters are reported
to be in a "bad state of mind" Mr..
Manion said that if the proposed
meeting materialized there might be
something bigger behind it" than dis
cussion Of a,tendency to involve other
ra ilr0ad crafts in the shopmen's strike
Reports from Cleveland and Cincn-
natl indicate that a majority of the
grand chiefs are favorable to Mr.. Man
ions suggestion. d. b. Robertson,
president of the Brotherhood of LO-
comotive Firemen and Enginemen, in
answering Mr.. Manion's suggestion
from Cleveland, said he favored such
a meeting -l
The Brotherhood of Clerks will go
along with any plan for conference
of the leaders of II railroad unions
not on strike. F.. H. Fitzgerald, presi-
dent Of the Brotherhood Of Railway
Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers,
, ldIlDH anu In Npits'H l1hiployN No' al
nounced in Cincinnati after receiving
Mr. Manion's letter. He said that in
all probability the conference, if sufti-
cient acceptances were received, would
be held in Chicago.
Ten thousand shopmen on the Santa
Fe, who have formed an Association
of New Employees, telegraphed to
Chairman Hooper, of the United
States Railroad Labor Board, demand
ing their rights to be safeguarded in
any settlement of the shopmen's strike.
They are entitled, they say, to pro-
lection in the seniority rights acquired
during the strike The message, which
was signed by officers Of the Santa Fe
supervisors, helpers and apprentices
Of the boilermakers, electricians, sheet
metal workers, bIacksmiths and car
mems associations and the stationary
firemen and oilers association de-
clared that failure to redeem the board
promises of a seniority would be be
trayal Of the men who remained loyal