The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-05

executives and union leaders con-
tinued today to differ as to the con-
dition of motive power on the rall-
roads. the senate promised to inter-
yene and call for information from
the interstate commerce commission
Senator Cummins of Iowa an
nounced today he would ask the sen
ate to Immediately pass the Harrison
resolution. calling upon the cohihAs-
sion for this information.
Washington, Aug. 5.-The railroad
strike moved swiftly today towards
The DEVELOPMENTS have crystallized
20 a point where a quick break in the
tense situation may be expected WIN
in forty-eight hours, according 10 gov
ernment officials in close touch with
conditions
The break may come in the direc-
ton of peace or toward more serious
condition OF affairs thru the spread OF
the strike to other classes or railway
workers besides the federated shop
crafts The opinion prevailing among
officials was that it would be in the
direction of peace
Hard on the heels of increasingly
menacing aspect of the situation and
contributing to the belief that impor-
tant steps are impending, We're these
developments;
l. B. NJ Jewell. national director of
the shopmen's strike, and William H
Johnstone, president of the Interna-
tfonaI Association of Machinists, the
largest single union involved IN the
tieup, reappeared in Washington for
renewal Of conferences with Presl-
Harding
Big Four Is 'AII Set"
.. Officials of the powerful big
four brotherhoods were quietly gath
ering here today to bring their griev-
ances to the attention of the govern
ment with the plain threat in the
background that they will be COM
PEELED to join the walkout unless there
is a sudden betterment of mechanical
conditions on the roads
President Harding, it was reported
today, has determined upon a fresh
line Of action designed to bring the
strike to a speedy end. and this will
form the substance of his renewed
conversations with the strikers
spokesmen.
They Wait Reply.
Cleveland, Aug. 5.-Chiefs of the
"big four railroad brotherhoods are
today awaiting a reply from President
Harding to the telegram sent last
night to washington asking for a con-
ference at which they may preseu
their views to the chief executive upon
the strike of the railroad shOpmen.
1t was declared in the message to
the president that the strike is daily
developing into a more serious situa-
ton"
Defective equipment and the ac-
ton of armed guards are endanger-
ing the lives of our men daily" said
D. B. Robertson. president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen. The situation is ex-
tremely critical We must protect our
men"
The message to the president was
signed by Warren S. Stone, grand
chief of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
ENv1cr 7 i.
of the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men. and Mr.. Robertson of the Fire
men
Little Official Comment
Administration officials, were chary
or ommenung today upon any new
plan" but it is understood that
Charles H. McChord, chairman of the
interstate commerce commission, has
had hand in their preparation. The
greatest factor in the situation, it was
conceded by administration spokes-
men, is the implied threat of the
brotherhoods, engineers, firemen.
tratnmen and conductors, to join in
the tieup. For these vitally essential
worknen to leave their posts would
complete the paralysis of the whole
transportation industry and create a
condition from which it would take
months to recover
The attitude of the brotherhoods
who are not members of the American
Federation of Labor and who have a
record of never joining in a '.svmpa-
thetic strike" was fully summed up
in their joint telegram to the White
House, which said:
The plain intention of the railroad
executives to smash the shop crafts
unions Is resulting in more and more
of the locomotives and equipment get
ting into disrepair and the dangers of
most hazardous occupation are be-
ing daily increased.
I'VE fear that a continuation of
these conditions will inevitably result
in our members, as a matter of self
protection, being drawn into the con-
troversy and we greatly deplore such
. contingency"
Southern Employees To Stay Out
Richmond, Va, Aug. 5.-Members
of the local shop crafts union form
erly employed by the Southern rail-
way will not accept the proposal of
the road that they return to work
without prejudice to seniority resolu-
ton Decision was reached at a
meeting last night, it was announced.
Dcrail Train of Guards.
Tulsa, Aug. 5.-Two cars and the
trucks of the engine of a St. Louis
San Francisco troop train carrying
soldiers of the Kansas national guard
were derailed at Dawson, five miles
east of here early today. None of the
men were injured and after a delay of
several hours the cars were placed
back upon the rails and the train pro-
ceeded.
The tracks had not been tampered
with, according to officials of the