The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-09-20


Charles A. CardveIl, business
agent for the striking employees,
declared last night that this de-
cisfon ON the part of the strik-
ers to remain away from their
Jobs means that the men will
not return to work this morning,
ms was previously reported.
Cardwell estimated that the meet
ing was attended by about IS per
cent of the forces of the Southern
shops. and in addition several hun
dred employees of other railroads
were present. The meeting was
open only to members of the strik-
ing unions.
object to Conditions
Information received from one
who had been in attendance at the
meeting, was to the effect that the
men had strongly objected to re-
turning to work in the shops under
the conditions set forth by officials
of the Southern, under which they
were to return to work within 80
days, or else be placed on the pay
roll of the road.
Under this plan, the informant
said, approximately 200 men would
have returned to work today, and
the remainder would have followed
within 80 days. The principal OBJ
lection raised by the striking union
men, 1t was said. was that the men
would be forced to work side by
side, for a while, with men who had
worked their Jobs during the time
the strikers have been out. The in
formant also said that no provision
was made for the immediate return
of union helpers and apprentices.
Cardwen Optimistic
Cardwell said that at the regular
meeting of the strikers, which will
be held in the temple this morning at
Q o'clock, more definite information
will possibly be on hand from their
leader. Cardwell was very optimis-
tic over the men returning to work
within a few days, declaring that he
was of the opinion that the objec-
lions now raised by the men will be
settled satisfactorily with the rail-
road. In the meantime, he said, the
men will continue to mark time"
Reports from Washington yester-
day declared that shop craft en-
ployes of the Southern railway sys-
tenn who have been on strike will
be restored to work as rapidly as
this can be done without disturbing
the orderly working of the shops.
Vice President H. w. Miller said in
Washington yesterday with refer
ence to the agreement terminating
the strike on the Southern, which he
signed with the shop craft heads
Monday afternoon, that under the
terms of the agreement all old men
with the exception of those who
have been guilty of violence. are to
be put back within 80 days.
I'VE shall probably be able to place
practically all our old men within a
week or 10 days." he said. The
men come back to work at reduced
wages set by the order of the United
States railway labor board, against
which the strike of July 1 was di-
rected. Men employed since August
Is, when the Southern railway be-
gan recruiting to fill vacancies In Its
shop forces. who wish to leave our
service will be returned to the places
at which they were recruited. In
reaching a settlement with our men
text of the Chicago agreement was
followed absolutely, not a word be-
ing added or subtracted. nor was
there any side agreement.
Seaboard Men Return
Former employees of the Seaboard
Air Limo shops here returned to
work Monday. Men employed by the
shops since July 1 were either trans
ferred to Atlanta or resigned. none
of them remaining after the strikers
returned. The men were not dis
charged, 1t was announced yesterday,
the mechanics being offered perma-
nent positions and the carbuilders
being offered positions In Atlanta
A number of the carbuilders accept
ed the offer and have gone to the
Georgia city, it Is stated, while the
mechanics submitted written resigna-
tions, thanking the railway for the
work given them and expressing
confidence in their ability to secure
positions elsewhere in the city They
stated that they preferred not to con-
tinue on the job after the return or
the former employees.