New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-03
Executive Council of the
Maintenance of fWayMen,
at Detroit, to Consider
Joining With Shopmen
80 Per Cent Vote
For a Walk-Out
Company Executives Say
Train Service Is Unaffect-
ed; Jewell Is Confident
By Gilman Parker


railway executives were concentrat-
ing to-day on a move to fill the
places Of the striking shop crafts
workers with non-union men interest
in the railroad situation centered on
the meeting tomorrow in Detroit Of
the executive council of the mainte-
nance Of way union, which will vir-
tually decide whether the 100000
members of that body will join the
shopmen in their walk-out. In this
connection E. F. Cradle, president
of the maintenance of way union,
and B. M. Jewell, head of the shop
workers, were in conference, and
later it was intimated that if
strike of the men in Mr. CRADLES
union were not ordered tomorrow
he might be forced to resign.
This feeling represented one side
of the situation developing over the
Detroit meeting. On the other hand
il is believed that the council may
simply carry out the purpose for
which it was called, that Of protest
ing against the wage cuts ordered
by the United States Labor Board.
Train Service Normal
Railway executives assert that their
reports show that less than 80 per cent
of the shopmen are actually on strike.
On the other hand, the leaders of the
shop workers union say their reports
from all over the country show that
more than 95 per cent of their men are
out and in many districts 100 per cent.
Among other developments of impor-
tance were:
Railroad executives reported that
none of the transportation lines Of
the country have been crippled and
that trains everywhere continued to
operate as usual.
Five roads-the New York Central,
Pennsylvania, Erie, Santa Fe and In
diana Harbor Belt Line, New York
Central ubsidiary-placed advertise
laents with the Chicago newspapers
for strike breakers.
Next Move Up to Roads
B. M. Jewell, president of the rail-
way employees department of the
American Federation of Labor and
the supreme head Of the strike, de-
clared that "the next move is up to
the railroads"
1t was learned that the United
States Railroad Labor Board will be
opposed to any contracting out Of
work of the shopmen by the rail-
roads, so far as their letting out Of
their own shops is concerned, as vio-
lating its decisions, even to offset
the strike, but that it will take no
action in the matter of the roads get
ting their repair work done by pri-
vate companies in the latter's shops.
the day in playing golf.
Ballot Record Mandatory
Edward F. Cradle, international
president of the Maintenance of Way
men, tonight said that the executive
board will meet tomorrow to count
the ballots cast by the membership for
II could not forecast the result Of
the ballot, but / will say that the
tabulation Of returns SO far as we
have gone has revealed that 90 per
cent of the maintenance of way men
| voted to join the strike," Grabble said
and added:
"If we find, after going over these
ballots, that from two-thirds to three
| fourths Of the Maintenance of Way
! men have voted in favor Of the strike
| the vote will be considered by the ex-
ecutive board as mandatory and it
| then will become my duty as president
of fO q
| strike"
| Mr.. Cradle said that, although there
are only 100000 of the 100000 mainte-
nance of way men employed on Amer
| lean rail lines affiliated with the United
Brotherhood Of Maintenance of Way
Employees, the 10000 non-unionized
| workers have been given an oppor-
tunity to vote and their wish as ex-
pressed by their ballots will be con-
sidered with the ballots Of the members
Of the association. He also said that
approximately $4,000 maintenance Of
way employees are out now.
$4,000 Out in Sympathy
"The $4,000 odd maintenance Of way
men, both members of the association
and non-members, are out for two rea-
sons: First, because Of misunder-
standing, and secondly because they
are in sympathy with the shop craft
workers. he said.
! Mr.. Cradle denied repotr that he.
in behalf Of the maintenance of way
men, had informed the United States
Labor Board that the maintenance Of
way men would stand by" for the
time being, at least. which was con-
strued by the Labor Board as meaning
that the maintenance Of way men
would not join the shop crafts walk.
out now.
,"All that told the Labor Board was
1 just this: That we had not proceeded
far enough with canvassing the ballots
to determine the attitude of the men,
and could not make definite state,
ment one way or another. until ] knew
the will of the men," Cradle said.
Cradle Confers With Jewell
/ Prior to leaving Chicago for Detroi,
tonight, E. F. Cradle, president of the
maintenance Of way men, hold a con.
ference with Mr.. Jewell, with whom hs
was reported recently to have dis.