Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-07-01

turned the session into a testimonial
meeting as they arose, one after an
other and announced their willing
ness to cancel all existing contracts
for the performance of railroad work
by outside firms. Practically all
maintained that it was their legal
right to contract such work but eN
pressed a desire to comply with The
boards rulings. if, thereby, the strike
crisis might be relieved.
Three other union heads, in addi-
ton to President Cradle of the Main
tenance of Way brotherhood, gave
assurance TO the board, that althoug--
their organizations were taking
strike votes, no call to quit work
, would be issued Immediately.
The announced delay Of the main
| tenance of way strike call, which
| had been expected tonight from the
! hcadquartcrs in Detroit came after a
! lengthy discussion between MIR.
| Cradle and Chairman Hooper. Mr..
| Cradle told the board that more than
! half of the 22S,000 votes had already
| been canvassed, the results thus FAR
| showing "a big majority" in favor
| C1 a strike.
/ The employees grievances, he eN-
/: planned, inCluued the $G0,000,0t0 pay
j cut which goes into effect LntCr 4
J beard decision tomorrow the con-
| tracing Of track labor and removal
| OF the eight hcur day through several
rules changes recently issued ~ ;he
| labor board. Ii the men couil Rave
! some assurance of rehearl1G on
taese grievances, Mr.. Cradle said, lie
volunteered tc use his influence" to
| prevent a strike.
The power to sanction a Waikout,
| the union elof continued, lies IN
| tie executiv, committee of five men.
Y meeting of that committee Wild lie
| held in C.l'taGo. July 3, Mr.. Cradle
said and at that time a thorough
| reconsideration of the situation will
be made.
Touching on the wage cut, Mr..
Cradle declared that the lost Of liv-
ing as shown by the government stat
sues, had actually risen in ths face
Of the importing wage cut. CHAR
man Hooper Immediately agreed that
Whenever fa>ts warranted, the board
-,ould readily reconsider wages in
tie ligEr IF changing conditions.
Mainly upon this assurance. MI.
Cradle agreed that no II ike call
would be 'ssucd tonight an! that his
cVr effo::s would be drecte toward
averting - strike.
'Prelimln,!y negotiations looking
toward ,s,ponement of Tie MAIN
ienance Of w1v strike, it was said,
were con luctcd by Chairman Hope"
snd w. L. Mc.lenimen, la5"r MEM
lers of the Bead.
Then followed interrogations of Z.
II. Fitzgerald, head of the Brother
hood Of Railway Clerks. D. w. Helt.
president of the Brotherhood Of Rail-
road Signal Men, and finally of
Timothy Healy who appeared to
answer to the subpoena issued by the
Board.
All three explained the strike votes
being taken by their membership,
each assuring the Board that no inn
mediate strike would be called, al
though MIR. Fitzgerald predicted that
freight handlers. members of his or
ganzation might leave their work
on some roads simultaneously with
the shop men tomorrow. They
would leave, however without the
unions authority, as strike ballots
are being cast on but sixty roads
where the power to authorize walk
out lies in the hands of the system
general committee.
Mr.. Healy said that only few
ballots had been received on the
signal mems vote and these would
be insufficient to authorize any strike
at present. The stationary firemen's
vote is not returnable until July 10.
Mr.. Healy told the board, removing
the likelihood of walkout of his men
at least until that date.
In concluding the hearing upon the
failure OF the sergeant-at-arms to To-
cate Mr.. Jewell. Chairman Hooper
sought to clear up any intimation con-
tanned in Mr.. Jewelrs letter to the
board that the federal body sought to
throttle the right Of the shopmen to
quit work.
The board has ample powers to
| compel Mr.. JEWELS presence here as
a witness" said Chairman Hooper. mot
as party to this controversy. but AZ