The New York herald., 1922-07-03


can make.
The men of the four brotherhoods-
the tranmen, engineers, firemen and
conductors--who are not involved in
strike possibilities-extend their SYM
pathies to the shopmen, but shake their
heads over the outcome. An engineer.
thirty-five years at the throttle, said to
THE NEW YORK HERALD correspondent
to-day:
IF ever a bad move was made. those
boys made 1t. It's like a stranger but
ting into a craps game where everybody
keeps fading him.
Public Continues TO Ride.
The word at Chicago terminals Is
that there has been no shrinkage Of
reservations. Thoughtful Chlcagoans
continue to migrate to New York as
usual Just now a lot of them are also
streaking for Texas, for many have been
stung on oil leases and there is an
exodus of avengers toward the South
west The public thus has refused to
take the strike seriously. This is
natural, because it is strike the public
cannot see. Most OF the shopmen did
their work far from the observation of
the travellers.
For the average traveller they did not
they continue to be non-existent until
trains begin to be delayed or withdrawn.
The railway executives say that stage
will not be reached. II they are merely
shouting to keep up their courage, as
the strike leaders say, the next two
weeks should prove it..
If the maintenance of way men are
called out, over the protest of the Rail-
road Labor Board and against thu real
judgment OF their leaders, strike stock
will rise appreciably. but the battle OF
the roads will be far from lost. There
are more than 400, 900 of these men, but
only about half are members of the
union, although virtually all have par
ticipated in the balloting. They are the
men who keep the tracks and roadbed
In order
Many of them are classed as common
laborers, although the phrase 'the skill
OF the unskilled' has been used in their
behalf. Many of them are immigrants.
1t has, been hard TO unionize them.
Many attempts have failed and the
present union, of recent origin. is built
on the wreck of former failures. Rail-
road operators figure most Of them
would return to work after a few days
IL a strike were ordered, and that in
any event this Is the class of worker
.
reservoir OF idle men.
Attitude Conciliatory.
Unlike Mr.. Jewell. Mr.. Cradle, the
maintenance of way president, attended
the conference Of the railway and union
executives on Friday. His attitude was
conciliatory. He said that IL his men
were assured of further hearings on re-
quests for wage increases ''it might
mean a good deal" Chairman Ben W..
Hooper OF the labor board replied that
the trend of living costs was indeed up
ward. that il this factor became sufii-
ciently important the men could ask for
increases and that, the policy of the board
was to grant increases as cheerfully as
decreases when they were warranted.
After Mr.. Cradle told the board about
the process of strike balloting, Chair
nan Hooper asked him:
You need no further authorit' after
you get vote--is it within your power
to call strike or not?'
Yes. sir; under our constitution"
said Mr.. Cradle.
Since then Mr.. Jewell has kept after
Mr. Cradle Mr.. Jewell insisted to-day
that IL the men vote irr the required ma
jority for a strike 66 2-3 per cent. In
some unions, 75 per cent. in others-the
union heads have no choice but 20 issue
the strike order. Early to-day Mr.. jew
ell had talk with Mr.. Cradle ana E. Ii.
Fitzgerald. president OF the Brother
hood OF Railway and Steamship Clerks,
the result Of whose strike vote has not
been made known. MIR. Cradle then left
for Detroit where the grand council OF
the Brotherhood of Maintenance OF
Way Men meets tomorrow morning.
Mr.. Jewell said tonight he did not
know whether CRADLES men would go
out.
Decisions Pending.
one of the reasons why a strike might
be disastrous to the maintenance men Is
that they have six cases before the Haii-
way Labor Board awaiting decision
which they expect to be favorable, ana
il they strike they apparently lose the
benefits OF these decisions. All involve