The Bismarck tribune., 1922-06-19
TIME, BALLOTS, I.
BOTH MARKED
IN R. R. CRISIS
By July l The Strike Referen-
dunn Will Have Been
Completed
$136,OOO,OOO IN WAGE CUTS
Word From Washington Says
President Harding Will
Back The Board
(By the Associated Press)

Chicago, June 19.-Rail chiefs
marked time today while employees of
the roads marked strike ballots.
BY July 1, the date $136,OOO,O in
wage cuts ordered by the United
States railroad labor board becomes
effective the strike referendum will
be completed and the nation will pro-
badly know whether it faces an act
ual rail strike and threatened trans
p0rtation war.
Developments of the last "a hours
included:
A statement by Ben w. Hooper,
chairman of the railroad labor board,
predicting an adjustment of the rail-
road situation without a strike and
peace on the roads by next fall.
Statements to the board by leaders
of the rail unions serving notice they
would strike, if favored in the refer-
endum.
Word from Washington that Pre-
sident Harding intends to back the
board, which has no power itself pn-
der the transportation act, to enforce
its decisions.
Gradual abandonment by the car
riers of their system of putting work
out at contract, a system which has
been one of the barriers to peace,
was predicted by Mr.. Hooper. Follow
ing the lead of the Southern Pacific,
other roads are expected to speedily
do away with labor contracts, the
board chairman said.
Referring to charges by leading
railroad periodical that the board was
completely dominated by the wishes
of labor organizations, and to more
recent accusations by the unions that
the wage reductions, were "miscar.
riage of JUSTICE" Hr. Hooper asserted
that "a discriminating public will find
the truth at a point about half way
between these two extremes"
The strike referendum is expected
to be completed by next Sunday SO
the employees can be advised of the
result by the time their pay checks
go under the pruning knife July l.
MORRISON TO BE OPPOSED
Cincinnati, June 19.-Prospects Of
second contested election of the ex
ecutive council of the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor at its convention
here loomed today as a movement il
the way for William Clarke, Of Toledo
president of the American Flint Glas!
Workers union, to contest the re-elec
tion Of Frank Morrison, as secretary
The convention went into it's secon(
week today with most of its important
business awaiting floor consideration
JOINING OF FORCES
Cincinnati, O., June 19.-Thret
factors will win victory for the min.
ers and railroad men in common
strike, it was predicted today by Johr
l.. Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers, who will meet tomor.
row night with rail union chiefs, tt
consider joint strike action in tn
threatened rail walkout Of approx
mately 100000 men. -.
Joining of forces of these organ
izations, Mr.. Lewis said, would frs
have a marked moral influence on la
Dor generally second, would dislo
cate the transportation system of tn
nation and third, would affect the III
dustrial fabric. la .-
Coincidental with the statement O
Mr.. Lewis, ten railroad union pres
dents made public last night a lette
to the labor board announcing their ir
tention of going through with til
strike in the event one is authorized
B. M. Jewell, head of the railwa
employees department, stated the vot
being cast so far has been overwheln
ingly for a wa.kout.
"A strike of 100000 or more raj
roaders," he said, would cause sue
J. dslocation of all industry the coul
try would soon be prostrated and tn
railroad and mine corporations woul
come to terms with their workers."
Warren G.. Stone, president Of tn
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer
said it would be impossible for him
attend the conference because of in
portant previous engagements.