The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-29
Copyright, 1922, by 1. N. 81


Washington, Aug. 29-While both
legislative and executive branches of
the government today were engaged
in evolving plans to meet the indus
trial emergency, fresh troubles arose
to threaten complications in the
critical situation. 1t was learned to-
day that chiefs of the big four
brotherhoods will meet secretly in
Cleveland within the next forty eight
hours to determine the adviSability of
roads of their intention of terminating
present working agreements.
The existing working agreements
between the brotherhoods and the rail-
roads are mostly of the continuity
type, run from year to year, until one
side gives thirty days notice of inten-
ton to termination. Should the Cleve-
land conference decide to give notice,
it would be served as of August 81,
according to brotherhood leaders in
Washington and would be tantamount
to serving notice that new contracts
would not be negotiated September 80,
unless there was adjustment of griev-
ances before that date.
Four Main Points.
The brotherhoods want assurance
from the railroads on four main points
before entering into new working
agreements, according to brotherhood
spokesmen in Washington These are:
J.. No reduction in wages.
&
shopmen's strike to be confined to the
shops themselves.
3. No compromise. modification or
new Interpretation of seniority rights
regardless of the outcome of the shop
mems strike.
4. Assurances that only safe equip
ment will be used and impaired roll
ing stock will be retired upon orders
from Inspectors.
The railway executives were ac-
quainted in New York with the de-
sires of the brotherhoods and many
of them signified their willingness to
meet these conditions, it was learned
today from labor sources.
Question Seniority.
The brotherhood leaders, however,
are not certain that the executives
can meet the conditions outlined, es%
pecfally as regards seniority rights II
the railway shopmen lose the strike,
IL was pointed out, and the dangerous
precedent of losing seniority is estab-
Hshed, what assurances can the rail-
roads give the brotherhoods that the
seniority precedent will not be used
against them next, especially If such n
precedent would be accepted and es-
tablished by the railroad labor board
1t was apparent today that the
powerful brotherhoods are torn be-
tween conflicting emotions % to
avoid direct participation in the shop
mems strike, and CD fear that If the
shopmen are defeated and the prece-
dent of losing seniority is-once estab-
lished, it may work against them '.the
next time"
Confronted by this situation, the
meeting in Cleveland has been called
as a preliminary war council to de-
eide what steps shall be taken.
Doesn't Mean a Strike.
Brotherhood spokesmen in wash
ington today deprecated talk of
strike" on the part of the brother
hoods, and emphasized that the
Cleveland conference does not imply
a strike, but rather that the brother
hoods desire to negotiate a new con-
tract on broader lines. Failure of the
railroads to agree to new terms might
then lead to strike action, but that is a
contingency upon which the brother
hood spokesmen did not care to COM
ment