The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-04
COMMON LABOR
MAY WALK OUT
ON RAILROADS
Outcome of EIeuenfh
Hour Confab Is
Dubious.

Chicago. July 4. - Tho striking
railway shopmen today served no
tice on the federal railroad labor
board that they no longer consid-
cred themselves obligated to the
board in any way and were pre-
pared now to pull a lone oar in
settling the nationwide shop
strike.
At the same time officials of the
maintenance of way union wen!
into conference with members o1
the board in an 18th hour effort tc
stifie the threatened strike of com.
mon labor. The outcome was rath-
er dubious, as E. F. Cradle, presi-
dent of the union, said he would
tear up the strike orders already
prepared, only if the board rescind-
ed the cut wage scale which we'll
into effect on Saturday.
Although President Cradle has
held up the strike order, reports
from various points said mainten-
ance of way men were already quit
ting work. Freight handlers
clerks, oilers and stationary fire
men were reported as joining the
shop strikers, although figures
were still meager and indefinite
and there was no way Of getting al
accurate estimate of the total de.
fections.
Strike in Fourth Day.
Chicago, July 4-(By the Associ-
ated Press)-Striking railway
shopmen, labelled as outlaws" by
the United States railroad labor
board, whose summons to media
tory conference were defied by
shop crafts officials last Friday, to-
day entered on the fourth day Of
their walkout in protest agains'
wage reductions and decisions by
the board.
As a result of their walkout tht
shopmen are beyond the pale o.
the labor board, whose members an
nounced that the strikers would re
ceive no further official recogni
ton by the government agency Sc
I'D as arbiter of railroad controver
sizes.
Meet NJ. Of W. Heads.
Having washed its hands Of tn
shopmen's strike and leaving "th'
blood" on the head of B. M. Jewell
shop crafts executive, as Chairman
Hooper asserted, the labor boar,
today centered its energies in
conference with officials Of tn
United Brotherhood Of maintenance
of way employees, in an effort Il
| avert a walkout Of railway main
tenance men whose leaders con
sented to mediation before follow
ing the shopmen out on strike.
On the conference today depend
ed largely the effectiveness Of tn
rail strike, railroad officials hav
ing repeatedly asserted that
strike Of Shopmen alone could no
tie up or dangerously crippl
transportation.
Meanwhile, in various rail cen
ters, the carriers displayed a for
midable attitude toward the "out
lawed" shopmen. Statements +
strikers announced that unless tn
men returned to work immediatel
they would forfeit all seniority an
protection rights and pensions, an
in some INSTANCES they wer
threatened with the refusal OF fu
ture employment
In its announcement the labo
| board declared that men. taking tn
places of strikers would be consid
cred officially as the employees q
| the roads in all future matters be
! fore the board
Reports from various rail Ger
ters said strikers were returning
! work. Boston and Maine railwa
/, officials stated that zoo strikers ha
returned and that others had ~
piled for their old Jobs back. Unio
oMcials denied ths statements.