The New York herald., 1922-07-05
BLOW IU SIhlhEhS
Action Precludes Crisis
Promised in Effort
to Tie Up Roads
of Nation.
AFFECTS SIGNAL MEN
It Is Believed Decision Will
Prevent Their Joining
Shop Workers. 4
OILERS ORDERED BACK
Firemen, Who Quit Without
Authority, Also Are Told
to Return.
OILERS ORDERED BACK

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
CHICAGO, July 4.-The threatened
strike of 100000 maintenance of way
employees, who have been on ths
verge Of joining the nationwide walk
out OF 100000 shopmen. was averted
to-day
The men will not go out. Executives
of the union, in statement issued
at the close of their conference with
the United States Railroad Labor Board
to-day, called off the strike and pre-
cluded any possibility of crisis in
the nations transportation.
The armistice accomplished to-day
is blow to the shopmen. Their walk
out now is isolated. Some of the 5000
stationary firemen and oilers, given
permission" to go out if they wished
by Timothy Healey. already are be-
ing ordered back on the job.
The clerks, station and express en-
ployees have agreements with twenty
one roads. Others are being effected.
In any case, strike of these en-
ployees will be divisional strikes on
individual carriers. The signal men,
$4,000 strong. have not completed
their strike vote.
d. w Helt, head of the signal mems
union, has adhered closely to the at
titude displayed by E. f. Cradle, head
of the maintenance workers. When
Mr.. Cradle intimated. after confer
ence with B. NJ. Jewell. head of the
railway employees department of the
American Federation of Labor, in
which are grouped the six striking
shop crafts, that he might be forced
to call his men out, Mr.. Het adopted
similar view.
Way Mems Program.
Mr.. Cradle said tonight: I'VE have
determined upon the following course
First, TO instruct our chairman on each
carrier to- take. up promptly with the
management all the grievances and con-
troversies between the members of our
organization and the carriers for the
purpose of negotiating speedy adjust
ment, the matters to be taken up, among
others to embrace a revision of the re-
cent wage decision of the Railroad
Labor Board. certain changes in our
rules, and the question of contracting out
the labor of the classes of employees
included in our organization.
Second, in case of a failure to Sc
cure from any carrier fair and reason
able concessions in regard to the various
matters involved. to bring these matters
before the United States Railroad Labor
Board, with assurance that they shall be
given the right of way for prompt con-
sideration and decision.
Third. to continue work under the
present wage decision of the Labor
Board under protest pending the efforts
to obtain satisfactory adjustment.
Fourth. TO insist that any revision Of
wages obtained be made retroactive 10
July /.
"Fffth--To seek Immediately from the
Railroad Labor Board a ruling absolv-
ing our members from being required to
perform the work of striking employees
belonging TO other classes.
"Sixth-To withhold our strike order
pending the carrying out OF the forego-
ing program.
with the best interests of the mem
bers of our organization at heart, il is
our judgment that more will be gained
for them by the program here outlined
than could be derived from any other
course.
1--WE believe just and generous pub
lie sentiment will sustain us in this poll
icy and every move necessary TO its au-
complishment will be most vigorously
pressed.
This announcement will be followed
by circular letter dealing in detail'
Now, however. with the elimination OF
the maintenance men as reinforcements
to the strikers ranks. the signal men
will be loathe to join the single striking
group.