The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-16
az the Associated Press.l

C1nclnnatl, O-s June 1b."hall union
chiefs were considering today serving
formal notice on the railroad labor
board that an overwhelming majority
of the 1,225, 600 shop craft and main
tenance of way employees were voting
in favor of a strike on July 1 and that
the officers of the union would abide
by the decision of the workers.
The notice in effect would formally
communicate to the board the public
statement issued here last night by
the union heads which asserted that
the board in ordering wage reduc-
tions had $50 reduced living standards
that the strike becomes an act of self
preservation"
Decision as to the dispatch of the
formal notice to the board was held
up pending receipt of the boards ac-
tion on further reductions affecting
$50, 900 station employees, clerks, ex-
press, signal men, stationary riremen
and oilers and train dispatchers.
Convention Hall, Cincinnati. June
16-Labor, represented in the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor convention
here, today accepted as inevitable
strike of union railroad employees
sometime in July.
Speed Up Strike Vote.
Already railroad workers thruout
the country have speeded UP the cast
ing of the strike vote Early returns
indicate an overwhelming majority in
favor of the strike. B, NJ. Jewell, head
the American Federation of Labor.
and other rail union heads stand au-
thority for that statement.
Doubt. which has existed among
many delegations in attendance. today
was brushed aside by this declaration
and the assertion that a strike sp-
pears the only means of combating
the railroad labor boards wage cuts
of over $1OO.oO0,600.
''War with Labor Board"
n1ent in the country take the admitted
position that there can be no peace
while the railroad labor board is oper-
ative.
The decision to strike is entirely in
the hands of the two million railroad
workers. Another week and II is said
tabulation of the strike vote will be-
gin. There IS no doubt among rail
union leaders that the vote will de-
mand a strike.
Dissolution of the railroad labor
board and restoration of wages to the
level before the recent slashes were
made might prove to be the only alter
native of averting a tieup, leaders as
sert.
While union officials have declared
they are maintaining a hands off"
policy so far as influencing the COM
ing vote is concerned, this is their
publicly admitted stand now:
Says Society VIII Suffer.
"The railroad board has made Z
blunder so serious as to threaten the
welfare of hundreds of thousa nds Of
railway workers and their families.
We must act to correct this blunder
before society suffers.
I'VE will, therefore, sanction a
strike in case the required majority oe
our membership vote in favor OF TAX
ing this step in defense OF their fam
lilies"
The contemplated strike, they con-
tend. becomes a necessary move for
self preservation"
Federation convention officials are
giving deep consideration to the pos
sibility of a railroad strike and the
necessity of all branches of organized
labor endorsing and aiding the pro-
posed tieup.
Organized labor and organized vet
Grams of the World war have "as COM
mon enemies those who seek to tear
down the integrity of America" de-
clared Hanford MacNider. commander
of the American Legion, in ddressing
the convention here today.
Houston, Tex, June 16.-Sinety-
five per, cent of the members Of two
locals Of :he federated shop crafts
unions stand in favor OF a strike, ac-
cording to J. W. Kelly, grand lodge
officer of the International Assocfa-
ton of Machinists. and J. 3. Smith.
secretary of the boIIermakers' local.
They made their statements after .
meeting Of each of the locals last night
at which the strike was discussed and
-