The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-28

Decision to call strike came lRte today after lengthy discus-
 sion ny the executive committee
 Of the six shop crafts unions
 based on the strike vote of the
 men thus far tabuIated.
 The committee left but one loop hole to avoid the strike. If the rail heads arrange an immediate confer- ence. agreeing meanwhile to continue present wages, restore working rules modified by the railroad labor se and discontinue farming out railroad workers, a walkout can be halted. the telegram said. Otherwise. A sanction of withdrawal from employ ment on July 1, 1922, as voted by the employees. will be unavoidable"
 Majority Overwhelming
 The $500 word telegram addressed to T. Dewitt CuyIer, chairman of the association of railway executives. threw no light on the strike vote beyond saying 1t was an ''over- whelming majority" Ballots were coming in, it was said. as they were not returnable until June 30. A two-thiids majority IS rsquired by the union bylaws to call a strike. Although the actual call for the walkout was made dependent on the railway executives reply to Presi- dent Jewells u1timatum, little ex- pcctation was expressed In railroad circles tonight that the executives would agree to the unions sweeping demands. Labor leaders said d strike seemed to he inevitable.
 Wiii Issue Call
 Six international unions among the executive council of the mechanical q ttlD liar f- ment of the American Federation of Labor was responsible for the strike decision.
 The union heads who will Issue the strike call If the proposed confer ence cannot b consummated, are;
 William II. Johnson. International Association of MachiniSts.
 ]. ". Kline International Brother hood Of Blacksmiths. Drop forgers and Helpers of America
 J. A. Franklin. International of Boilermakers Iron ship Builders and Helpers os Amer lea
 | N lnngs. Amalgamated sheet Metal ,kafs international Al
 James a'. Soonan. international Brofhefs41aa Electrical Workers
 Martin r. llyan. Brotherhood of Railway ti4e.asn or America.
 Prevent Naiiout
 Declaring the railroads have acted on eommou program to reduce wages and optain other advantages to the carriers, President Jewell s message pointed out 'one benefit which may come to the carriers and their employees, and to the general public, from the fact that there are national spokesmen of the conflict ing interests who might be able to halt a nation- wide withdrawal of men from employment in the rail- way service If the railway execu- tives sincerely desired to avoid this consequence of their previous course of action"
 ''For this reason,' the telegram said, fin behalf of and by the author ity of the executive council of tho railway employees department. l am informing you and through you in- forming the heads of various rail- way systems in the United States. and also the Pullman company. most of which are reported in the associa- tion of railway executives, that un- less an immediate arrangement can be made:
 CD. To continue the payment
 of the wages at present in force.
 CD. To restore operation
 under rules C, 10 IF, IA, fJ, 4v
 and TIT. as they existed prior to
 the urncnd ment thereof proposed
 in decision 22i and,
 t3D. To discontinue the con
 trnetInK out of work and shops,
 pending negotiations between
 the association of railway execu-
 lives and the railway employees
 department, looking toward ad-
 journment of the existing dis
 putes on these questions, a sanc-t
 ton of withdrawal from empIoy-
 ment on JuIy 1922, as v.sei
 by the employees, Will he un
 avofdable."
 The three points on which the executives are asked to meet the em- ployes' demands are identical win the three questions on which the unions now are completing their strike ballot.
 The first ballot covers the sso.- 000,000 wage cut ordered by the board effective July l The second ballot involves seven rules regarding