Evening star., 1922-09-03
Telegram Follows Confer.
ence With A. F. of L. Leg
islative Representatives.
REPORT CUT IN TOTAL
OF BAD-ORDER CARS
Decline of 9,43S Between August l
ard August 15-46,S65 Below
Figure of Last Year.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A renewed pledge of sympathy and
support to the fullest extent within our
power was given to the striking rail-
way shopmen last night by President
Samuel Gompers OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor
Without making any direct mention Of
the Chicago injunction procee Iings or
discussing in detail its possible con-
sequences. the labor leader telegraphed
to B. NJ Jewell, head of the federation's
railway employees department. annoanc-
ing it had been decided to ratify and
emphasize" a previous pledge of support
by the labor legislative representatives
Of the national organization.
signed BY Gompers.
The telegram, sent after a confer
ence Of the legislative representatives
at federation headquarters, constituted
virtually the only comment on tk.
strike situation to come from labor
union officials here during the day 1t
was signed by Mr. Gompers in his ca
pacity as chairman Of yesterdays con-
ference, at which it was indicated the
restraining order issued at Chicago was
studied minutely.
Road representatives and officials
of the government likewise wers
reticent in discussing the injunction
suit. Although for three hours the
Senate gave its full attention to coal
distribution legislation drafted 10
meet the strike emergency. there was
not a mention of the Chicago pro-
ceedings in the whole debate, and
officials of the executive departments
indicated that they preferred to let
the Attorney Generals injunction Pc
tition speak for itself.
Fewer had Order Cars.
As bearing on the strike situs tiop
generally, the Association of Railway
Executives announced that despite
the absence of the striking shopmen
from their jobs the number of freight
cars in need of repairs decreased
s.4Ss between August / and August
Is. although the total on the latter
date was 1882 above the figure for
July 1, when the strike began. The
number listed as needing attention
on August Is was 335,575 or 1l.S per
cent of the whole number on all
lines.
The associations statement did not
cover the condition of motive power,
nor did it show how many of the
cars out of commission were of coal
carrying types. 1t was said at the
organizations headquarters, however.
that association reports from through
out the country indicated that there
now were upwards OF 100000 surplus
coal cars in good condition.
Adds Nothing Further.
1t was said at Labor Federation
headquarters that Mr.. Gompers' tele-
gram to Mr.. Jewell was all the fed
Grafton president cared to add to
his statement of Friday. in which he
pronounced the Chicago restraining
order an Outrageous" invasion OF
the rights Of organized labor, and
declared the unions would stand upon
the guarantees Of industrial freedom
given them under the Constitution
.
eral strike. it again was pointed out
yesterday that the American Fedora
tion had no authority to call for such
action. although it was said num-
ber of resolutions and petitions from
local unions and others advocating
nationwide walkout would be laid
before the meeting of the fedora
tons executive council. to be held
mere next Saturday.
Text Of Telegram.
The telegram sent by President
Gompers to Mr. Jewell last night was
as follows:
"At the meeting of the labor legis-
lative representatives July FL reso-
luton was adopted conveying to you
and through you to the striking rail-
way shopmen the pledge of our sym
pathy and support to the fullest exs
tent within our power. =
AT the meeting of the same con:
ference this evening it was decided
to ratify and emphasize the declara-
ton made July 21 and pledge anew
our sympathy and support and the
best wishes for the success of the
striking railroad shopmen in the at
tainment of their just cause
Car Service Report.
In its statement regarding the con-
dition Of freight cars. the Associa-
ton of Railway Executives said:
Reports just received from the
railroads of the United States by the
car service division of the Americab
Railway Association show that 335.-
SIS, or 14S per cent, of the freight
cars on line were in need Of repairs
on August is.
'rhis was an increase Of 1882 cars
over the total number Of freight cars
In bad order on July 1, when the shop
mems strike began, at which time
there were s24.bss cars. or 14.s per
cent. en
Compared with. August 1. this was
\ decrease Of s.4sslcars. On that date
34S,o1s cars were in bad order, or 15s5
per cent of the cars on line,
Le.s Than IN 1871.
"The total number OF bad-order
freight cars on August Is last was
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