Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-06-23
LEADERS ARE IN
TAFvi0R Of STRIKE
LABOR BOARD FORMALLY MOTT.
FLED WALkouT WILL BE CAR
RED THROUGH IF VOTED
Coal Miners Head Declares That
Transportation Workers Must
Fight Wage Cut; to Take
Effect July First

! Cincinnati, Ohio.-Formai notice was
served Sunday on the railroad labor
board by the chiefs OF ten railroad
unions of their intention to go through
with a strike In event one is author
lied by the 100000 workers whose
wages are to be reduced July under
orders Of the board.
Coupled, apparently, with the action
,of the rail union leaders was a state
ment that the railroad workers have
mo alternative except to fight made
by John l.. Lewis, leader Of the strik-
ling coal miners, who will meet with
pail union leaders Tuesday to consider
Joint strike action. He also pledged
the miners aid to the rail men. but
declined to state definitely what aid
might result from Joint action.
The notice sent to the railroad labor
board, In the form OF letter. relter
ated the rail union leaders attitude on
the threatened walkout, which was
first definitely asserted in their state
ment issued here Thursday night. The
previous statement also included the
declaration that an overwhelming vote
was being cast for the walkout. In
their letter to the board the rail men
said:
"When there occures a miscarriage
Of justice of such colossal ana per
manent injury to railway labor as your
decisions will bring about, the only
means OF remedy which the injured
parties have is TO refuse TO accept your
decisions. This procedure Is perfect
ly legal. While II should only be used
as a last resort, our membership may
decide II to be fully justified by your
denial of elementary and long estab.
llshed rights and by the seriousness
of the situation which you have Gre
ated. Your decisions have been SUB
mitted TO strike vote Of our members
and we are awaiting the results Of
their action. Should our members ue-
eide not to accept your decision. or In
other words to strike. we shall sane.
ton their action and advise you ac-
cordingiy.
Mr.. Lewis, the miners chief, while
asserting unwillingness TO discuss the
outcome OF the coming conference with
the railmen, said the miners twill do
anything that Is helpful and construc-
tive for the railroad men and for the
miners themselves.
~ am convinced" declared Mr.. Lew
Is, 'that the railroad men and the rank
and file OF the railroad organizations
frankly recognize the necessity OF max.
Ing fight regardless of the conse'
quences. And in that fight they will
have the whole-souled and active co.
operation OF the nine workers."
The presidents OF the rail- union
said in their letter 10 the labor board
that they have done everything TO avert
a strike, pointed out that no appeal
was possible from the boards de-
cisions. and restated that the unions
contention was that the transportation
law required a living wage for en-
ployees at the bottom Of the scale OF
occupations. with higher rates fol-
other workmen, according to their skill
hazard of employment, responsibility
training and experience.
In making wage reductions, the
board was told that II had established
the principle that "just wages mus,
road ownership In the matter OF re,
await the complete satisfaction OF rail,
Mobilization and profits" Further. the
board was told that In Its last decision
cutting the wages of clerks. signal mer
and stationery firemen II had stated
as ''basis of action the theory, tina
labor cannot be completely freed from
the economic laws which likewise NJ
feet the earnings OF capital"
Clearly this means nothing more mo-
less" the letter said. "than the treat
ment OF labor as commodity whose
value fluctuates according to the de
mand for and the supply of labor"
AS result of the boards decisions
the letter said, the lowest paid EN-
ployees have been degraded below ,
level OF bare animal subsistence" enc
the earning capacity OF the employees
in the higher grades had been reduced
"below standard OF healthful and de
cent living"
Much Lettuce Planted
St Anthony, Idaho-The Fremon