The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-01
RAILROAD SHOP
WORKERS DROP
TOOLS QUIETLY
Starting in East, Cessation of
Work Spreads on All Lines
Public Does Not
Feel Strike.

u 1OA 0tl1hOs
100000 CALLED OUT
IBULLETIN1
CHICAGO, July -Notwithstanding
the efforts of the federal government.
acting through the United States Rail
road Labor board, to throttle a strike
of the nations railway shop workers,
thousands of snopmen answered the
call of their union leaders and laid
down their tools at 10 o'clock today.
Beginning in the New England
states at 10 o'clock eastern time. the
shopmen walked out on the Boston
line, New Haven, Burlington and A.
rowstock and other roads
Gradually the walkout spread west
ward as the roundhouse clock an
preached the rezo hour, 10 o'clock,
local time.
By noon the action was reported
from every big road in the east, south
and central west, including the New
York Central, Erie, Northwestern,
Burlington Chicago and Alton, South.
er big trunk lines
There was no interruption of traffi
on any lines. Engineers and trainmen
stuck to their posts, although under
instruction from brotherhood chiefs TO
perform only their regular duties
(By Associated Press)
CHICAGO. July Thousands Of
railroad shop men dropped their tools
today to join the nationwide strike
call issued by the international pres
ident of the six shop craft unions.
Early replies indicated that the
shop mechanics and their helpers
from the New England roads to the
western lines were generally joinin-
the walkout with about $4,000 said
TO have actually quit work by noon.
While there was no way of compar-
ing figures which might be all inclus.
i've, reports from Boston to Kansas
City showed that the strike had taken
effect on nearby all the important
roads of the east and middle west
Shopmen in western states were ex-
pected to join the secessionist move
ment when the zero hour, 10 o'clock,
arrived in their territories.
The call sanctioning blacksmiths.
boiler makers, sheet metal workers,
electrical workers and maehinists to
stop work at 10 a. m. local time today,
was issued Thursday night after a
ballot by the 900 shop workers had
showed, according to union officials,
96 per cent majority in favor OF
striking. Not more than $4,000 mem
bers and helpers were actually al
work, however. according to latest
government figures, although the un-
| ions total membership was allowed
| to vote, many shopmen being tenn
| porarily laid off.
| Approximately 100000 shopmen-
one-fourth of the entire number-are
employees of railroad shops in Chicago
and environs
Jewell Firm.
B. M. Jewell, head of the railway
| employees department of the American
Federation of Labor who, with offic-
ials of the various shop crafts, defied
summons to appear before the United
! States labor board yesterday, in last
effort to avoid strike apparently de-
| cided to remain consistent with his
ultimatum to the railroads last. week.
i Jewell successfully avoided sub
poena servers during the night after.
the board issued a writ calling upon
him to appear at the close of yester-
i DAVIS conference Efforts TO LOCATE.
him were fruitless until after mid
night whe nhe was found at ashotel
where he met with his chairmen and
considered hundreds of teIegrans RE
garding the strike. He declined 10
comment on the situation
Urged Rule ignored.
In his ultimatum Jewell told rail-
4F4oF All sr1rfc la
avenue to peace was for the railroads
to ignore the decision of the labor
board slashing 60,000,000 from the
wages of shopmen today and to re-
store rules governing overtime pay
and working conditions along with an
agreement to discontinue the system
by which several railroads farmed out
; work to contractors.
Declaring that the blood was on
JewelPs own head Ben W. Hooper
chairman of the labor board. who led
! the way to a peaceful settlement Of
the threatened strike of trainmen last
October. said JEWELS belated appear
ance under subpoena could not at such
late hour result in any reversal OF
1.-The strike order in time to prevent 4
suspension of work
Railway executives who answered
the boards summons and appeared al
yesterdays conference virtually re,
: moved one of the strike issues when.
one by one. many of them whose roads
had been following the practice an
, nounced that they would abolish the
contract system in their shops. The
board in several cases brought by EN-.
7. iployes against the roads ruled that the
carriers were violating provisions OF
e the transportation act in farming out
r work to contractors
: No interruption
!. As the strike loomed inevitable.
railroad officials declared that the
l public would scarcely be aware of the
: / walkout except through reading aboui
! it. Transportation would continue un
i interrupted, they asserted and In
some centers 1t was indicated thai
shops would be operated on an open
\ shop basis
III Definite word from headquarters Of
the maintenance of way employees al
Detroit early today that the track
workers would remain at work until
/ July 8 at least. pending conferences,
llleft the shop crafts alone in the walk
out today.
s+-.1e a.. .h~7s-t, ft,,f 49,