Evening star., 1922-06-08
RAILROAD HEADS
SCOUT BIG STRIKE
Declares Workers Expect and
Are Ready to Take Cut
in Wages.
Ry the Associated Press.

by the Aesoclated fress
CHICAGO. June S.-Railroad unions
continued preparations today for their
strike vote, with leaders predicting
that the referendum would be heavily
In favor of a suspension of work in
protest against wage reductions made
by the Railroad Labor Board. despite
statements by several railroad presi-
dents that strike sentiment was con-
fined largely to union leaders and
that there was good reason to doubt
whether the sentiment would saturate
the nations railway workers.
The statement expressing doubt
whether the strike sentiment would
echo through the rank and file of
the unions was signed by the follow
ing rail executives: H. E. Byram,
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul;
Hale Holden, Burlington: w. H. Fin
ley. Northwestern; ]. E. German, ROCK
Island; c. H. Markham, Illinois Cen
tral, and S. NJ. FELTON,. Chicago and
Great Western.
..The truth is that the men have been
expecting a reduction in their wages and
have made, or are making. preparations
to meet the new scale. There is not
talk of strike among the men. The dis
turbing statements read by the pubic
are prepared by leaders Of the unions.
The employees. on the other hand. are
in the main, sincerely interested in TAX
ing care Of their jobs and homes. and
few employees in any industry have more
good reasons for doing so.
fact that in deciding the proposed
wages of these employees the labor
hoard said after the reductions made
under this decision these employees o~
the railroads will still be receiving d
wage in excess of that paid similar
employees in other industries.
IAN important fact which should
not be overlooked is that. whereas
rate reductions amounting to more
than $250.000.000 have been ordered
by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, the cut in wages. according
amounts to only $11O.000.000.
These reductions in wages Of rail-
way employees simply mean that
they must bear some part in the re-
adjustments made necessary by
changed business conditions. Farm
ers and business men have been COM
PEELED to accept lower prices. The
railways. not yet emerged from
a serious financial crisis. have been
ordered to make reductions In rates
which they cannot stand without re-
ductions of their wages and other
expenses"
SOME DOUBT OF STRIKE.
By the Associated Press.
CINCINNATI. Ohio. June S.-While
union heads generally refrained from
commenting on the probability Of a
walkout as the result of the release
of strike ballots to 100000 railway
shopmen, some leaders expressed the
belief that, although there were
grounds for a strike in the railroad
industry, 1t would not be sanctioned
unless all Of the sitxeen brother
hoods and organizations presented a
united front Doubt was expressed
that the four transportation brother
hoods would join in such a move, in
view of the fact that their members
wages have not been cut by the Rail-
road Labor Board.
Significance. however, was accord
ed letter sent to all locals follow
ing release of the ballots by the ex-
Crafts, in which 1t was declared:
This is the time for action and not
for talk and unnecessary delay"
Return of all ballots before June
25 was urged, thus making 1t pos
sible to advise the membership be-
fore July l."
The letter was regarded in some
walkout on July 1. II a strike was
favored by the vote Of the member
ship.
Daily sessions are being held by
the shop crafts executive council.
preliminary to the American Fed
Grafton of Labor con, ention, which
begins next Mondav.