Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-04

halfway stflhe luteItst, ttHteTeu
over the weekend on the shipments
walkout Saturday. Monday turned to
developments dependent upon the can
vass. at Detroit, of the strike vote of
100000 maintenance of way employees
and action by their union officials.
A potential railroad crisis far more
acute than any forseen threat to the
traffic by a strike of shop crafts alone.
hinged on the course taken by the
maintenance of way men.
A strike by maintenance employees
would double the number Of railway
strikers and more than double the eff
fe~ctiveness of the suspension.
Should the clerks, freight handlers
and signal men join the walkout. the
total number of railway employees
called off their jobs would aggregate
approximately 100000.
Edward F. Cradle, president Of the
maintenance employees, who returned to
Detroit after conference with officials
OF other unions, kept his promise to
the railroad labor board to hold strike
orders in allegiance until Monday. at
least, although the vote of his union
was reported to be Overwhelmingly in
favor of a strike.
Cradle Holds Key
The key to the strike situation was
apparently held by President Cradle.
upon whom hopes largely were banked
for averting further walkouts.
Claims on tie completeness and eff
fectiveness of the shipments strike
were made from various union sources.
Union officials said that the walkout
was virtually 100 per cent and would
cario,clr hapnnnr railroad nnarotioro
Railway executives on the other hand
tentatively fixed 30 per cent as the
maximum number of strikers among
the 4O1 900 men in the shop crafts and
declared that over the weekend it had
been impossible 10 check up and deter
mine the number of men who respond
ed TO the strike order.
In some rail centers plans were in
preparation for replacing strikers with
workers upon open shop arrangements.
The New York Central Monday ad-
vertised in newspapers for men to re-
place shopmen who went out on the
strike Saturday. In it's advertise
ments the New York Central said:
Guarantee Protection
mechanics and helpers wanted-Or
account of the action of q number OF
our shop and engine house employees.
VINO lett the service IN Geridnce OF the
United States labor board. the New
York Central is in need of machinists
and helpers; boiler makers and helpers;
pipe filters and helpers: electricians,
and helpers, tank repairers and help
ers; boiler washers; qualified car re-
pair men and inspectors.
Board and sanitary housing will be
furnished and ample police protection
provided at all times.
The United States labor board di-
-ccts that all men taking the place of
strikers are TO understand they will not
be considered strike breakers and will
be protected in their position. and con
sidered as doing a public good"
At the Jackson, Mich, shops of the
Michigan Central. 1000 shopmen who
walked out Saturday were given until
July Is to return to work under the
roads threat to close the shops per
manently and have all work done in
the east. Officials of the mechanical
department of the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas railway at Parsons. Kan, went
into the roundhouse and took the places
of striking shopmen.
Officials announced that necessary
repair work would be done in the local
roundhouse and that no attempt would
be made Immediately to re-open the
big shops. Union and -ailrpad officials
agreed to settle tne,r wage controversy
by q system agreement which was ex-