Evening star., 1922-07-13

At I o'clock Proxident Halk
ing had not yet received the tele-
gram from the railway usOns In
answer to his proclamation, which
telegram wnS sent today from
Chicago by b. NJ. Jewell. head of
the railway employer department
of the American Federation Of La
bor, and the six international
presidents of the railway shop
crafts.
BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. July 13.-B. NJ. Jewell.
head Of the railway emplo:-. depart
ment of the American FrG:ation Of
Labor. today sent a telegra..: to Presi-
Dent Harding. replying - the Presi-
dents proclamation on the strike situa-
tion and opening a new phase of the
grievances Of striking railway shopmen,
in which the President WIS told: In
terruptionS of commerce and interfer-
ence of mails will contin.. and increase
until agreement Is obtained upon just
and reasonable wages between the rep
resentatives OF the skilled employees and
railroad executives, who up to date have
refused even to meet with employees rep
resentatives. We stand ready to CO.
operate Fundamentally with any effort
10 bring about such an agreement
The telegram. which also was signed
by the six international presidents of
the railway shop crafts. declared that
the strikers had walked out because
wages fixed by the labor board were in
violation of the provisions of the trans
portation act and because of the viola
ton of the labor boards decision by the
railroads
The strikers insisted that no inter-
nf grtn
with the mail had been caused by an
unlawful act by the shopmen. The
telegram laid such interference di-
Tectly to the attempt Of the railroads
to operate with incompetent work
men. President Jewell and his associ-
ates reiterated their desire to CO.
operate in any effort to bring peace.
but declared that up to the present
the rail executives had refused to
meet the representatives of the en-
ployes.
Text of Message.
The balance of the text follows:
1t appears from your proclamation
of July IL that incomplete informa-
tion has been furnished you concern
ing the present dispute between the
Ninety-two railroads have violated
transportation acts or decisions OF
the Railroad Labor Board in 104
cases.
these involved not only contract
ing outwork in shops. but also wage
decreases, interprerRt Rtions of rules
and right of employees to elect their
own representatives. When the
Pennsylvania railroad refused to
comply with the boards rulings. Fed
oral Judge Page held that the boards
position on wages or rules was only
advisory. The railroads have re-
fused ever since passage Of the
transportation act to establish ma
tional boards of adjustment described
by the Labor BoaTd as the central
part of the machinery to decide dis
putes between the carriers and their
employees
THE railroads have made all ne
gotiations merely formal, thus throw
den of arbitration. The board has
abolished overtime pay for Sundays
and holidays. enjoyed for thirty years
even on unorganized roads The |
of $500 a year. though the Depart !
ment of Labor fxed the bare cost of I,
living at over s1.400 and a minimum !
comfort budget at over $4,000.
Basic Wage Unjust.
when the basic wage is unjust 1t
follows that all wages graded upward
for skill and responsibility are like !
wise unjust. Organized employees SUP
port your declaration of May %, 1921,
that the lowest wage would not be
enough for comfort and to insure that
the struggle for existence shall not
for, and should provide for amuse-
ment, recreation and saving. EN- |
ployes have never violated any deci-
sion of the board. but the railroads
have violated decisions. and employees
have refused to work under wages
fixed by the Labor Board. which vio-
lated provisions of the transportation
act.
THE board has attempted to unload
financial burdens Of railroad manage
ment upon employees through made
quate wages, and this will undermine
the health and prosperity of the next
generation. After exhausting all other
methods the employees sought again
with the railroad executives. Only
as a last resort did they strike. We
respectfully insist that no Interrupt
tion of commerce or interference of
full acts Of the organized employees.
Such Interruptions and interference
result inevitably from attempts iof
railroads to operate with insufficient.
incompetent and unskilled workmen."
Peace Still Expected.
Railway peace activities. which
doomed large on the strike horizon
yesterday, slumped perceptibly today.
while rail executives. union leaders
and Railroad Labor Board members
awaited the sext angle of develop
ment
Chairman Hooper Of the board was
in private conference with railroad
presidents again today. however. fol-
lowing the nat refusal of a commit
tee from the carriers yesterday to
talk to the strikers SO long as they
remain away from the shops Mr..
Hooper declined to discuss his plans.
but B. NJ. Jewell, president of the
shopmen. still maintained a hopeful
attitude.
The strike leader declared he be-
iieved the roads would soon relent and
get down to business with the strikers
Representatives.
One remaining hope in the peace
parley move, Mr.. Hooper declared.
hay in the fact that the railroad chiefs
who rejected the proposed conference
were not authorized to speak for
railway executives generally.
New Disorders Crop Up.
The thirteenth day Of the shopmen's
strike thus held considerable promise
of important Developments.
Meanwhile the short lull in which
acts Of yfolence diminished somewhat
was followed by renewed outbreaks
in widely scattered areas. California,
Texas and Michigan were among the
scenes of fresh disorders. while
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