Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-07-18
CLIMAX IN RAILWAY
SH0PMEN STRIKE
BELIEVED AT HAND
Reports OF Settlement Not
Denied.
by International News servtoe)

10y iHNEIFStiUndl NEWS SETRASe1
Chicago, July 1S.-The strike of
railway shepmen was believed to-
day, to be noying swiftly toward a
climax as tie result of secret par
leys held here during the last p
hours. Conferences. from which
plan of settlement is expected TO
emerge, are still IN progress, ac-
cording TO authentic reports.
Officials OF the United States
railway lab0~ board and Of the
shipments union, declined to con-
firm reports that a definite peace
plan had been evolved Persistent
reports that a settlement appeared
closer than at any time since the
walkout began, however, were not
denied
According to these reports the
plan involves an agreement by the
railroads to restore all seniority
rights to he strikers and to abol-
ish the practice of farming out
shop work tc shops not owned by
he roads. The unions, for their part
will agree 20 an imm ediate return
TO work with the provision that
hearing on the question of reduced
wage scales be granted. II ia under
stood that conferences between w,
L. McMenimen, labor member OF
the board and Bert NJ. Jewell, lea
Ger of the ctrikers, have establish
ed this tentative basis for an agree
ment. NcMenmen and p. w Hoop
err. chairman of the board also are
understood to have held parleys
with the railway executives.
Aoues For Final Settlement
The opinion is prevalent that the
labor board. having brought pros
poets of ar agreement appreciably
nearer b the series Of conferences
that have heeen held, soon will
call a formal public hearing Of the
rail executives and of the union
heads at which it is hoped a final
settlemen viii be effected.
f. T. GABLE, Of the maintenance
employees. IS in Chicago today. fresh
from WASHINGTON. where he had
conference with President Harding.
Cradle vas scheduled to confer to-
day with members of the labor
board Strike sentiment in his own
c~eanization is rerorted to be grow
ing but Cradle declared no authori'
zed strike action would be taken
until after he meeting Of the bro
therhood's grand lodge in Detroit
Thursday. Cradle denied that the
runaway" strike of maintenance
of way men had assumed serious
proportions although he admitted
that several thousand members of
tie brotherhood had joined the
walllout Of the shop crafts.
Strike Ballots Out
Strike ballots were received to-
dav by several thousand clerks and
freight handlers of the Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul railroad
The ballots according to f. r. Kin
nav, general chairman of the clerks.
deal with the wage question only
The committee representing ths
clerks Of Chicago and Eastern Him
DIS railway was to confer today
with railway officials in an effort to
adjust differer ces that led to fav-
orabie strike ballot by clerks.
Forecasts that thousands OF men
would join IN the strike yesterday,
were not Fulfilled, according to re-
port here. While about 5000 sta
tiOnarv flre'len and oilers struck in
compliance with authorization
granted by Timothy Healy, presi-
dent Of their union, no general UNI
authorized ga1Fout of maintenance
OF wav men occurred. Less than
1000 members of the trackmen, it
IS estimated. went out and most OF
these were on eastern roads,
A special train Transporting non
union WORKERS to the Baltimore and
Ohio shops here was fired upon last
night by Nv men in an automobile
but no one was injured.
Charges that striking Chesa'
peaEe and Ohio shoomen at Peach
Creek. W. Va, in Logan COUNT,
are Icing "unlawfuily intimiaated'
BY 80 deputies, according 10 ter
egram received by Jewell today
from \ F. Earnhart, chairman OF The
shipments local there. Eafnh2rt
reported that the deputies are arm
ed and the strikers are angry and
he said he feared trouble.
Jewell said the shipments execu-
tive board would take up the mat
ter THE Afternoon and irtimated a
telegram might be sent to Cover
nor Morgan of West Virginia.
A telegram received by Jewell
today from Marvin II. Sperry, ma
tional president of the private SOL
diers and sailors legion, urged the
strikers 10 stand firm" and pledg-
ed the aid Of the legion in every
possible way
Reports rom the local chairman
of the sho0men at East St. Louis
which were received today declar-
ed that nle7 we're 5oining the strike
daily in that locality.