The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-06-30
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-Tariff Precedes Bonus
In Senate-conference on Russia
at The Hague-De Valera ls
lrreconcilable.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD

BY E0WAHD w. PISNAnD
TT THE railway maintenance Of way
i workers, shop men and members OF
other unions that are balloting on the
question of walkout. vote for strike
on July /, the officials Of the unions
will sanction 1t. In that case the I'M
ions will find themselves in direct con-
flict with the government, for Presi-
dent Harding has let it be known that
he will, to the full extent Of his pow
er, 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 strike If possible
and to render it ineffective If 1t does
come.
The stand Of the union leaders was
set forth in a 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 If the men so voted. Ben w.
Hooper, chairman Of the board, replied
to this with charges that the union off,
clals had distorted and misconstrued
the boards decisions In 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 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 party and which the carrier put
into effect"
Railway executives generally are of
the opinion that, though the men prob
ably will vote for a strike, it will not
be ordered; and they say that If it is,
transportation will not be 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-
L Dor convention in Cincinnati a reso.
luton was introduced calling for the
repeal Of the Cummins-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 single
moment have we abandoned the pro
gram of government ownership. But
the present administration is I'M
friendly to us and we thought that it
would be inadvisable to press the mat
ter at this time. Our enemies would
charge that the forthcoming strike
was called to force the government to
take control Of the railroads. We want
that issue to be clean cut"
The special committee of the A. f.