New-York tribune., 1922-06-29
Rail Heads See
Doom of Strike;
Keep Hands Off

AAOC AANSAAN'0
,c'an's's i'ou sa's sal
but Mr. Jewell sent ont word that he
was too busy TO see any one.
I, was learned from a well informed
labor leader that the stationary FIRE
men end oilers. who were out only two
cents an hour by n Labor Board de-
clsion. probably would not 60 on strike.
I II was also learned that no great
amount Of enthusiasm for the strike
] exists among labor organizations gen
orally. despite official prononncementA
I issued By Samuel Gompers and others.
/ Jrst what bearing this may nave on
the railroad union political activities
In the American Federation of Labor
was not disclosed:
"Thc railroad unions" said one OBJ
server. "have cried Wolf so often
that it is difficult for the public and
oven other labor organizations. TO take
/ their strike threat seriously"
"The heads Of the ten rail organizs.
tions affiliated with the Federat !on,
said another observer. "havc hard
/ time agreeing among themselves as 70
+ what cNrsc 10 pursue concerning me
various issues confronting them. /
believe they have some merit 10 their
case in the matter Of the threatened
strike. but they're failing 10 let the
public know about II.
zone union head is afraid 20 make
statements as 20 the real facts. or 20
give any constructive ideas, because
/ ne believes the other fellow will come
out with some hotter and more radical
statement and thereby get him m
wrong with the rank and file Of his
organization.
In that YOU will find your real rea-
son FOR the rcticorce Of Mr.. jewell
and the others when questions are
asked as 20 the why and wherefore
Of this and that. They have been con
tent merely TO put forth one line Of
argument, and everything since has
been rewriting and redressing OF
that. Consequently what they have
had 10 say hasn't made much Of an
impression on the public or any one
else"
Arguments Weak. Is Belief
Il is the belief Of Western railroad
circles that the railroad unions will
not be able 70 find any really conylne-
ing arguments as 90 the justice ot tneir
cause. They point out that the Labor
Board. in It's decisions, made u clear
that even with the cuts ordered the
railroad workers will be receiving more
than persons engaged IN the same sort
Of work Tor other employers, and term
ridiculous the contention that meehan-
les working in car shops are toilirg
90 extremely hazardous occupations
involving grave responsibility TO the
public
Where. then. the Western railroads
managomcnts inquire, can the workers
in these CLASSES Of employment, which
DO not inclyde the train service men,
Justify a strike IN the eyes OF the pub
lie?
These railroad circles are confident
that an overwhelming majority OF the
. workers will refuse 10 90 out. even u
ordered 70 do 90. aad especially those
with families. As IVES stated in The
Tribune yesterday, q railroad estimate
OF the number who Wi. respond 20
strike call was placed as low as 10
Per cent. Other observers believe this
will be Q higher figure, but no one
other than n union Official has believed
for a moment that the walk-out will
be anywherr near one of 100 per cent.
wherever they 20 out after July
4 l." said one informant, 1T viii
be through the influence OF their lead
ers. who want 20 keep their union
/ jobs"
/. vas asserted in railroad circles
to-day that the Labor BOARD toned
down a number Of its decisions before
( issuing them. because Of the great up-
roar raised By the unions.
Although no rail maragements are
critieizing the board In this connee-
tiOn, considerable discussion has been
going on concerning Ar. Wharton and
/ Mr. Phillips. two labor members, who
0led minority reports on the boards
decisions. ~ was declsred that, al
though the transportation act provides
that 10 labor member % the board
shall hold Office in any union, both
we're chosen for such jobs some time
7 ago and yet continue 10 sit on the
board.
Il was learned that Western rail-
road circles are firmly convinced that
not only will the strike not seriously
cripple even a single important trans
portation system Of the country, but
that there will not be q general si,ike
in any Of the Federations ten railroad
unions.
One speculative ofshoot put forth
had TO do with the non-partisan politi-
cal program OF the unions concerned.
In this the question was raised as 70
whether the clar.oning Of alleged griev-
ances and strike talk. begun some time
ago, might not have had as one Of its
purposes the advancing % railroad
union political aspirations, but 10 have
proved somewhat embarrassing later
on. particularly from a few weeks ago
70 the present time.
That the rail unions have several
political irons In the fire was shown
eoneuliveiy By their part in the farm
er-labor political entente IN Chicago
last February, which was held By some
watchers as not entirely disassociated
with the ambitions Of Senator Robert
M la Toilette, of Wisconsin.