The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-07-13
Reports From All Parts
Of the Country Indicate
That the Lines Are Be-
ing Drawn Tighter and
Tighter Between Strik-
dfs and Roads

Chicago, July BIB. NJ. Jewell,
head VI the railway employees depart
rnent of the American Federation of
Labor, today sent telegram to Pres
ident Harding, replying to the presi-
dents proclamation on the strike sit
nation, and opening new phase of
{ the grievances of the striking rail-
way shopmen.
The telegram which was also sign
ed by sixteen international presidents
of the railway shop crafts, declared
the strikers walked out because the
wages fixed by the railroad labor
board were in violation of the trans
portation act, and because of the rail-
roads attitude on the boards deci-
sion.
No interruption of commerce or in
reference with the mails had been
caused by an unlawful act of the
shopmen. The telegram laid such in
reference directly to the attempt of
the railroads to operate with incom
Z petent shopmen.
President Jewell and his associates
reiterated their desire to cooperate
in any way in an effort to bring
peace, but said up to the present, rail
executives had refused to meet the
representatives of the employees.
The text follows:
at appears from your proclamation
of July IL that incomplete informa-
ton has been furnished you concern
ing the present dispute between the
railroad operators and the employees.
"Ninety-two railroads have violated
transportation acts or decisions of the
railroad labor board in 104 cases.
These included not only contracting
out work to other shops but also
wage decreases, interpretations of
rules, but the right of employees to
elect their own representatives.
when the Pennsylvania railroad
refused to comply with the boards
rulings, Federal Judge Page held that
the boards position on wages or rules
was only advisory The railroads
have refused ever since passage of
the transportation act to establish
national boards of adjustment de-
scribed by the labor board as the
central part of the machinery to de-
eide disputes between the carriers
and their employees
"The railroads have made all ne
gotiations merely formal, thus throw
ing on the board an impossible bur-
den of arbitration. The board has
abolished overtime pay for Sundays
and holidays, enjoyed for thirty years
even on unorganized roads. The board
has established a rate of pay of $500
81, he ,fx Nf 1o
Dor fixed the bare cost of living at
over 81 400 and minimum comfort
budget at over $4,000.
When the basic wage is unjust it
follows that all wages graded upward
for skill and responsibility are like
n unjust. Organized employees sup
p your declarations of May 23,
/ pat the lowest wage must be
en- for comfort aand to insure
thu j struggle for existence shall
not Fowd out things purely worth
liviK for and should provide for
amusement, recreation and saving.
Employees have never violated any de-
cision of the board, but the railroads
have violated decisions and employees
have refused to work under wages
fixed by the labor board which vio-
lated provisions Of the transportation
act.
"The board has attempted to un-
load financial burdens of railroad
management upon employees through
inadequate wages, and this will un-
dermine the health and prosperity OF
the next generation. After exhaust
ing all other methods the employees
sought again to obtain a conference
and agreement with the railroad ex.
ecutives. Only as, a last resort die
they strike. We respectfully insist
that no interruption of commerce OF
interference of mails was caused by
direct or unlawful acts of the organ.
lied employees. Such Interruption
and interference results naturally
from attempts Of the railroads to op
crate with insufficient, incompetent
and unskilled workmen.
"Such interruptions and interfer
ence will continue to increase unit
agreement is obtained on Just ans
reasonable wages between the repre-
sentatives of the skilled employees an,
railroad executives, who to date hav,
refused to meet with the employees
representatives. We stand ready t,
cooperate intellectually with an,
effort to bring about such an agree
ment'
Strike Breakers Warned
Denison. Texas. July 80 Ith
Associated Press) Two IMPORTS
s sporkrnen were seized aarlv TODAY b