Evening star., 1922-07-17
Je,UeM, s:Hard Boiled" Genius,
In Directing Railway Strife
Eoon,s as Me,U Leader
: In the Labor World
F.: By Generalship.
.Works Day and Night
: To Guide Cause of
. 4OI, 900 Workers.
specisI Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
CHICAGO, July 1.-THE directing
genius of the present railway strike
bids fair, win or lose, to continue the
stormy petrol Of the labor world for
many months 10 come. Many OF his
methods are new. His personality is
more or less of a puzzle TO all with
whom he comes into contact. Yet to-
day, in a tiny office over a North Side
movie palace, seated about plain-top-
nod table. surrounded by his shirt
sleeyed associates, Bert NJ. Jewell dom.
mated the group. although some "a
them have been leaders IN the ldpoi
field for years Here. far removed from
the great railroad centers OF the CITY,
the plan of campaign is being mahipu
lated TO meet the hourly changes tnat
take place in the situation Wnlch touay
holds the attention OF the entire Mot, ,e
Jewell, according to his associates,
is a genius Sandy-haired, wearing
heavy horn-rimmed glasses. thln ouI
hard and sinewy, with the long fingers
Of an artist, he locks more nKe iiis.
school principal than the leader oi an
nrt,snization that already has crippled
some of the great railway systems ol
the country. With his shirt sleeves
rolled up ana his hands resting ON ti,s
tabIa this blue-eyed man hardly WouIu
we'll he stands out in an argument
Directs 401.OOO Strikers.
OHiciallv he is chairman of the rall-
aay denartment employees. American
federation of Labor. Actually ana
actively he is the leader OF SIX leu
Grated shop crafts and the genera
in-chief of the army of 4Ol,oOO strlk-
ars Who have left their work in pro-
rest against the wage reductions or
dered and approved by the onileo
States Railway Labor Board.
..Vho is this man Jewell. is tne
question that for more thah M Men
has been repeated with more 1orce
daily as the strikers continue TO sno"
their solidarity of purpose.
Jewell is an American, thirty-elent
wears old. born in Omaha. He quleuy
assures any one who inquiries tnat ne
is a boilermaker, and a Soou one
and that he has "drifted" about the
country. He came into the labor
union leadership from the shops OF
the Atlantic Coast Line. ana MS pres
ent position of leadership is one
which he proudly points out, was
earned AS labor leader he enjoys
the confidence of his men and OF the
chiefs of the American Federatloh.
When the Railway Labor Board was
established and Chicago selected rs
its headquarters. Jeweil renoStu ma
small office force to this city. located
a small office on the edge OF the loop
region. threw away the door key ara
settled down to Ions hours, working
day and night
Works in Simple Once.
His office, where the strike board of
strategy remains in almost contlnu-
ous session, is as plain as Its owner.
The main room is 10 by IL feet
square. The big desk occupies the
center while in the corners are ming
cases with cards inside carrying the
vital statistics" of the organizations.
Directly in front of Jewells chair
stands a file of letter baskets, into
which are dropped perfect ava
lanche of letters and kilograms from
every section of the United States.
A typical message reached him early
today. 1t was request from Ne"
Jersey for 500 words of encourage
ment. There is to be mass meet
ing of strikers late today. The COM
mittee wanted the low down" for the
strikers.
Jewell calls his stenographer. He
well worth reading. 1t is language
that is rather new in the strike line
Opposes Violence.
I'VE are opposed to all violence"
he says. "One hundred men are not
needed to get single Individual off
the job. Two men will serve as well.
The mob is an evil. detriment to
the strikers cause.
Let two men seek out the man on
the job and talk to him quietly. per-
suasively and earnestly. The truth
and a friendly argument will accom-
pHsh results impossible with force.
Force is forbidden"
a clerk glides in as he finishes with
q sheaf of opened kilograms. Some
ask for advice. All are promptly
answered. The policy of the organi-
Zation ond the strike program of
wants such information. Then comes
a. batch of letters. Replies speedily
are dictated. The stenographer's
chair beside that of the labor leader
is never empty. A constant stream of
letters and kilograms are being
rushed to the dirtrfct chiefs every
where. None is left in the dark as
couragement is given the men to
stand fast and wait-because through
waiting the leaders see Improvement
and ultimate victory for their cause.
Declared "Close-Mouthed."
Newspaper men wait outside. Some
are seen, but not every time they call.
This particular labor leader is close
mouthed. They call him "close
mouthed' and hard boiled" Only a
very few intimates call him Bert"
his Christian name. He discourages
although when necessary he can be
congenial enough. But there never
is any crossing by him of the waver-
ing borderline of familiarity. He
sleeps little and his hours of
labor are long enough. He gets
to his Office about nine and all