The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-06-29
Union Leaders Warn That They
Will Order Rail Strike if
Men Vote for 1t.
GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT IT
President Harding Gives Labor Board
Full Support-Tarff Precedes Bonus
in Senate-conference on Russia
at The Hague-De Valera Is
lrreconcilabIe.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD

TT THE railway maintenance of way
l. workers, shop men and members OF
other unions that are balloting on the
question Of walkout, vote for strike
on July 1, the officials of the unions
will sanction it. In that case the un-
ions will find themselves In direct con-
flict with the government, for Presi-
dent Harding has let 1t be known that
he will. TO the full extent of his pow
err, back up the federal railway labor
board, whose adjustments of wages as
provided by the transportation act
have brought on the crisis. The Pres
ident and the cabinet are keeping In
close touch with the developments, and
all agencies of the government will be
employed to prevent a strike If possible
and to render it ineffective If 1t does
come.
The stand Of the union leaders was
set forth in q long statement to the
labor board In which the decisions of
that body were denounced and warn
ing was given that the strike would be
called IL the men so voted. Ben w.
Hooper. chairman Of the board, replied
to this with charges that the union Off
Gals had distorted and misconstrued
the boards decisions in q manner to
misled the men, and he cited instances
Of this distortion.
"a strike of railway employees"
said Mr.. Hooper's letter, Involving
their wages, their employment and
their welfare, based upon such mis-
leading statements OF this boards SEN
timents and declarations, would be
unjust to the men and to the public"
SO far as the shop crafts are con-
cerned. one of the three reasons for
desiring q strike may be removed with
in a few days. This is the practice
of farming out shop work under the
contract system. The labor board has
been considering II complaints filed
against various roads and its findings
are said to be almost ready for an
nouncement Hearings in 30 other
cases are now being held. Early In
May the board decided such a case
against the Indiana Harbor Belt rail-
road. the principles it enunciated then
being, briefly. that such contracts
"violate the spirit and purpose Of the
transportation act, and in effect set
aside the wage decisions Of the rail-
road labor board to which the carrier
was a party and which the carrier put
into effect"
Railway executives generally are of
the opinion that, though the men prob
ably will vote for strike. II Will not
be ordered and they say that II 1t Is,
transportation Will not he seriously
crippled. The train handling forces,
including engineers. firemen. conduct
ors and switchmen, are not involved In
the controversy.
TN THE American Federation Of La
Dor convention In Cincinnati a reso-
luton was introduced calling for the
repeal OF the Cummlns-Esch trans
portation act, with an amendment
favoring government ownership Of the
railways. At the request of the rail
union chiefs the resolution was laid
aside. w. III. Johnston, president of
the machinists, said: mot for a single
moment have we abandoned tho pro
gram OF government ownership. But
the present administration is un-
friendly TO us and we thought that II
would be inadvisable to press the mat
ter Mt this time. Our enemies would
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