Evening journal., 1922-08-05

- N~AtAN ~ NV so NAAN HAARAfAAAN
beaten"
DETROIT Mich. Aug. 81
Prophecy that the policy OF certain
railroads was leading directly into
strike of all organized labor employ
ed In transportation. was made her
today by a high official of the Main
tenance OF Way Union.
lie cited the death OF two unto
men at Van Buren,. Ark. yesterda
shot by guards. the death OF maj
in ohio. yesterday shot by a Negr'
guard. and the serious injury Of
trainman at the Michigan Contra
Shops in Detroit beaten into insen
sibility by guards while the Employ
was endeavoring to get his run.
f. +. Cradle. president OF the
| Maintenance OF Way Brotherhood
left last night for Chicago before re-
ceiving a telegram from William d.
Roberts. vice president In charge OF
the Eastern District OF the union
| advising that nationwide walkout
of all unions be called
WASHINGTON. Aug. 5.-CUnited
Press)-An open threat OF absolute
paralyization OF the country hangs
over the railroad situation admin
stration officials admitted today af-
ter thorough study of the telegram
OF the chiefs of the big railroad
brotherhoods. asking for a confer
ence with President Harding.
Disturbing significance was attach
ed to the following paragraph of the
telegram:
I'VE fear that a continuation of
these conditions will inevitably re-
suit in our members. as a matter Of
self-protection, being drawn into the
controversy and we greatly deplore
such a contingency"
These conditions" include the
danger TO the safety OF big brother
hood members through deterioration
of locomotives. violation OF safety
statutes and rules. the refusal OF the
railroad executives to accept the
Harding settlement proposal and the
plain intention" OF the railroads to
crush the shop crafts unions, the
telegram enumerated.
Administration officials believe the
telegram Is conclusive evidence that
the big brotherhood chiefs fear they
cannot hold their 1,25O,0OO members
in line much longer and that set
Element must be reached to avoid |
complete stoppage OF transportation. |
That President Harding realizes
the significance OF this sudden turn
Of events Is evidenced by his action
in calling several leaders of the
strikers TO Washington.
Bert VI. Jewell. president OF the
shop crafts unions; William John
ston. president OF the machinists
and James Noonan. president OF the !
electrical workers. are due at the |
White House. 1t is understood that
Harding may have a new OFFER to /
make to the strikers more nearly in |
line with an acceptable proposition |
TO the railway executives.
Great secrecy was maintained at |
the White House. Not even the sum-
OF the leaders was admitted. /
Within the next few days Hard /
Ing is expected TO have White House /
conference with the brotherhood /
chiefs, in compliance with their re-
quest for an audience to lay their
case before him. The chiefs are:
W. G.. Lee. president of the Broth
srhood Railroad Trainmen; Warren
5. Stone. grand chief OF the Broth
srhood OF Engineers and ID. 3. Rob
ertson. president OF the Brother
hood OF Firemen and Enginemen.
While the chiefs maintained they
wished to place before Harding the
hangers to life and limb occasioned
~ deteriotating equipment, the in
iults TO their men by railroad guards,
violation OF safety rules, and
lggravatlon caused by the apparent
OF the executives to
mash the shop crafts union and the
herished principle OF seniority are
he fundamental reasons for their Z
mission here.
Seniority is n rock on which all {
eace negotiations have crashed. ,
he railroad men will not abandon u
hese rights. which constitute a form ,
( employment insurance. Seniority I
lights are an inseparable part OF :
very contract made between rail- ;
Dad workers and the railroad man ,
cement. the union leaders hold.
To stand idly by and watch the
hop crafts union crushed would be
licide. spokesman for the brother
Gods declare. They hold that II the
aDiority rights OF the shop work.
RS are wiped out It would be only 2
latter Of time before the big broth q
rhoods themselves would be picked j
ut for similar treatment. I
From private sources It was
armed that the big brotherhoods y
ave tentative plans for Throwing {
ieir entire strength behind strik- h
rs. These do not call for an open {
ak out as a protest against the
and OF the executives but contem- "
late rather a gradual withdrawal p
, engineers. firemen, conductors. T
rakemen and others as equipment b
eteriorates on the ground that the q
ifety Of the men is involved. c