The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-19
HEAD OF THE COAL
MINERS WILL MEET
WITH RAIL CHIEFS
AT Session to Be Held Tuesday
Joint Strike Action Will
Be Considered.
MINERS AID IS PLEDGED
TOTS4E RAILWAY WORKERS
Notice Is Sent to the Railroad
Labor Board Reiteration
Stand on Strike.
Csy The Associated Pressl

Aby J ne AtoOStaAso FANsSi
CINCINNATI. June 1s.-Formal no.
tice was served tonight on the railroad
labor board by the chiefs Of ten rail-
road unions Of their intentions to go
through with a strike IN event one is
authorized by the 1.225,0O0 workers
whose wages are to be reduced on July
j. on orders OF the board.
Coupled apparently with the action
Of the rail union leaders with a state
5nent that the railroad workers have
$40 alternative except to fight" made
by John L. Lewis. leader OF the strik
ang coal miners who will meet with
Nae rail union leaders Tuesday to con-
slider joint strike action. also pledged
ahe miners aid to the rail men. but
declined to state definitely what aid
might result from joint action.
che notice sent 10 the railroad labor
oafd, IN the form Of letter, reiterat-
cd the rail union leaders stand on the
threatened walkout, which was first
definitely asserted in their statement
sssued here Thursday night. The pre-
ous statement also includes they de-
cared that an overwhelming vote was
being cast for the walkout. In their
t.seter to the board the rail men said:
When there occurs d miscarriage Of
l5ustice Of such colossal and permanent
INJURY to railway labor as your decis
lsons will bring about the only means
Fo1 smedy which the injured parties
Aavs is to refuse to accept your decis-
itns. This procedure Is perfectly legal
While It should only be used as a last
resort. our membership may decide it
90 be fully justified by your denial of
elementary and long established rights
and by the seriousness OF the situa-
tlon which you have created. Your de-
clsions have been submitted to a strike
vote OF our membership and we are
awaiting the results of their action.
Should our members decide not to ac-
cept your decision. or in other words
TO strike, we shall sanction their ac-
tlon and advise you accordingly"
\ Mr.. Lewis the miners chief while
asserting unwillingness to discuss the
outcome Of the conference with the
rail men. said the miners will do any
I thing that is helpful and constructive
for the railroad men and for the min
ers themselves2
a am convinced" declared Mr.. Lewis
that the railroad men and the rank
and file OF the railroad organization
frankly recognize the necessity of
making a fight regardless or the con-
sequences. And in that fight they win
have the whoiasouled and active CO.
operation OF the mine workers. The
nature OF that cooperation depends
upon circumstances, but the help of
the mine workers win not be OF small |
consequence"
The presidents OF the rail unions /
said in their letter TO the labor board /
that they had done everything to avert /
strike, pointed out that no appeal /
were possible from the boards deois- /
ion, and asserted that the unions con- |
tentions were that the transportation !
law required a living wage for en- i
ployees OF the bottom Of the scale of 1
occupations, with higher rates for 9TH /
err PorSmen according to their skill. /
hazard Of employment. responsibility. i
training and experience.
In making wage reductions the
board was told that II had established l
the principle that 'just wages must I
awak the complete satisfaction OF rail- |
road ownership in the matter Of rehab-
iliation and profits" Further, the 1
board was told that in its last decision l
cutting the wages of clerks, signalmen
and stationery firemen that it had
stated as a "basis of action the theory /
that labor can not be completely freed /
from the economic laws which likewise
affect the earnings OF capital
This means nothing more or Less, the
settor said. than the treatment OF labor
as a commodity whose value fluctuates
according to the demand for the supply
OF labor"
As the result Of the boards decisions.
the letter said the lowest paid employees
"have been degraded below level OF
bare animal subsistence" and the earn
Ing capacity Of the employees in the higher
grades had been reduced below a stand
ard Of healthful and decent living" The
acceptance of tho claim for profits first
FOR the roads the commodity theory OF
wages, and the rejection Of the principles
that the lowest paid workers should re-
eeive living wage were declared viola
tions Of the transportation act by the
letter. High operating costs 81 railroads
we're asserted 70 be due to "delinquencies
OF financial control and the letter said
that "if the capital needs og the railroads
were financed by the public ard they
were operated in the public interest,