Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-07-28
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE ATTEND
MASS MEETING OF SHOP CRAFTS

That the people waet L. know the
/ truth about labor matters and tbs
/ failroadefs' strike In particular was
when about 2.u00 Twin City people
turned out 10 the mass meeting hels
under the auspices 81 the Twin Sss
Federation ef Labor at Crystal lake
park
/ The mectiag vas arranged 50 that
speakers qualified 10 talk on the Why.
and whcrefefes IT the shepmen.s
strike could reach directly the public
with statements not made known
through the newspapers, and NJ. J
Barry, general vice president Of The
International Brotherhood of hlaek
smiths, Drop fergcrs and Helpers
Union, who was the principal speak
er did net mlnee words Ia making
plain the cause of ,he strike and IN
laying the blame directly upon the
railroads and railway labor board.
CharaetcriAlng the labor hoard ~
tool Of the railroads, willing to
stand for any and al violations 81
it's decisions, lie said the board haa
eountenaneed violation after viola.
ton on the part Of the roade. while
/ the employees have not. aud do not AT
the present time, discgatied IN n
single instance the constituted author.
lity of the board
The strike. he said. is not In viola.
ton Of the proper functions OF the
railroad labor board. a. there is moth
! ing la the transportation act 70 pre-.
vent men from quitting their jobs
! either individually or collectively
Neither is there anything IN this Law
that binds the employees TO work un.
der conditions or wages prescribed by
/ the buari.
Mr.. Barry said the strike was won
lin fact, had been Won since 10
o'clock july |, and all that was need.
ed now was little backbone ana
patience. The general breakdown Of
the transportation system, he said, Il
due 20 incompetent strike-breakers
who, he said, do not know an engine
from box car, and whom the rail
roads employ simply for the purpose
of creating the impression that there
are plenty Of available men TO iill The
| positions left open by the strikers
| He recounted an instance at Bloom
ington where, all told, over oot
atrikehroakerA had been imported, al
10 be discarded so that the total mum.
Der left on the payroll at the presen
time Ks ~. The trouble al Clinton
| which eliminated In the shooting Of
i2-year-old boy and wounding tw
men by an armed guard, was th'
direct result Of the importation o
| professional gun-men, whose nature
| II II 10 fight and who would be en-
| tirely out of their element II the,
could not stir up fight.
Since 1920 wages Of railroad em
ployes have been reduced 20 the tun.
Of 81 ,000. 100000, the operating ss'
pensoa of the railroads have been re
dnced by over 81 800, 900, 900, but they
have reduced rates 10 the tune Of ips'
| than $4b0 100000. The owners ars
asking the employees 20 make saeri-
! Aces for their profits, not for the
benefit OF the public.
| In 1920 by Decsion No. 2, the Rail,
road Labor Board increased the wagef
of railroad employees 10 the extent OF
about 5000 100000 per year. The In
terstate Commerce Commission H.
creased railroad rates 10 the extent
Of this amount and billion dollars
additional, making total increase "a
the railroads Of $1,000, 10000 per
year.
Since 1920 the railroad employees
have seen their earnings reduced by
Decisions 1a7, 222, Sol, 630, 707, 72b,
1923, 1886 and 1914, and also by un.
employment. The total amount OF
these reductions shown on an annual
basis is as follows;
Amount Taken Away Since 1920
Shop Crafts ----.-.---.-. 1911 SIT D9G
Maintenance of Way, etc. 3i6,so3,s3b
Clerks a Station En-
ployeg. etc - ld6,G99. .147
Slgnalmen -4---.@ l0,373,i6s
Stationary Fifenen q Oil
ers - 2,1db, ,235
Other Railroad Employees g6,3b2 ,4g0
Total Loss to Employees s94S,l9i,s7i