THE MORXING OREGOXIAX. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1921
ON STRIKE
TO
Result of Conferences Not
Yet Known.
NOTHING ELSE IS DONE
Postal Chief's Statement Is Only
One Issued In AVasblngton;
Daughcrty Meets President.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Oct. 17. A
report embodying tha result of con
ferences between the public group
of the railroad labor board and the
interstate commerce commission on
the threatened railroad strike was
laid before President Hardlnr today.
The text of the report was not made
public, but Chairman McChord of the
commission announced that the con
ferences had been concluded.
"Anything- regarding our report
must come from the president," he
eaid. At the White House it was
aid there would be no statement to
night An attitude of watchful prepara
tion characterised activities of other
irovernmentai agencies. The depart
ment of Justice completed a survey of
- statutes and precedents to determine
the scope of federal authority, but
the Impression given by most offi
cials was that the government could
not move, except by mediation or
moral suasion, until the situation had
assumed a more concrete status.
Hays Says Mails Will Move.
Evidence waa atill lacking as to a
basis for the expressed expectation
ty labor leaders that a petition for
Injunction would be tha next move
ment by the government.
I'ostmaster-General Hays also was
known to have obtained reports from
lils assistants as to ways and means
ot meeting any attempted interfer
ence with the malls. By telephone he
conferred with heads of important
postal districts aa to the emergency
facilities.
"The malls will be moved.' he said
later, but he refused to make any
further comment.
"A time may come for action." he
raid. "1 sincerely trust it will not.
If it does, there will be action."
Statistics Are Studied.
At the conference between mem
bers of the labor board and the com
merce commission, voluminous statis
tics were studied.
The conferees saw Attorney-General
Paugherty at noon and Mr. Daugherty
lunched with the president. Later he
held an interview with Postmaster
General Hays.
Alfred P. Thorn, general counsel for
the association of railway executives,
held conferences with Chairman Cum
mins of the senate interstate com
merce committee. Senator Cummins
aid that congress probably , would
not take any action at present. It
would be Impossible, he said, for the
legislative branch to move until the
executive had exhausted every effort
to avert a strike.
Conference Held Possible
Possibility of President Harding
summoning the chiefs of the railroad
brotherhoods here for a talk was sug
gested in several quarters, but the
White House was silent. Government
officials, it was learned, are paying
close attention to publlo opinion. In
some quarters the opinion was ex
pressed that "the Weight of public
opinion would be the determining
factor in averting the strike" or in
bringing it to a speedy close in case
other efforts failed to avert.
When the house convened today,
.Representative Blanton asked unani
mous consent to discus for five min
utes "the recent declaration of war
against the people of the United
tstales which Is to occur October 30."
' Representative Walsh, republican,
Massachusetts, prevented Mr. Blanton
from speaking by objecting to his re
cti a I r m a n Wlnslow of the house
commerce commission, which consid
ers measures affecting railroads, to
day called a meeting for tomorrow for
che purpose, Mr. Wlnslow said, of de
ciding what legislation Is to be
pressed before the end of the present
session.
Hope wss expressed generally by
government officials that the sugges
tion advanced by the public group of
the railroad labor board, her for con
ferences with the Interstate commerce
commission, might be made the basis
for a aolution of the problem. The
public group of the board proposed
that the railroads Immediately put
Into effect freight reductions equiva
lent to tile wage decreases authorized
fcy the board last July, that the rail
roads withdraw further requests for
wage reductions! and that the em
ployes rescind the strike order pend
ing action by the board on proposals
of the carriers for further pay cuts.
Mays Issues Statement. j
rostmasier General Hay, In tha
only public statement issued up to
noon, said:
"1 am sure the parties to the con
troversy will not permit developments
Which will interfere with government
service." said Mr. Hays. "This is no
time for statements from this depart
ment. A time may coma for action:
1 sincerely trust that it will not. If
It does, there will be action. The
malls will be moved."
Postmaster-General Hays refrained
from discussing plana of his depart
ment with relation to tha threatened
trike. Mr. Hays was understood to
have conferred with postoffice offi
cials in various cities by long-distance
telephone, but the Information he re
ceived was not disclosed.
About 30,000 army trucks, most of
them In storage at corps area depots
over tha country, would be available
for transportation use In tha event of
m complete railroad tie-up, it was
learned at the war department.
There was some discussion today of
bringing up the antt-strike bill spon
sored by Senator Poindexter. repub
lican, Washington, but it was said
there would be no immedlata action
by congress.
MORE LABOR CHIEFS ASSIGNED
Big Five Executives to Bo Kept
Advised of Situation. j
CLEVELAND, Oct. 17. Additional
assignments of grand officers in 12
principal cities who will keep the
executive's of the "big f've" railroad
transportation organisations advised
of the situation In their districts were
anuounced here tonight by Warren S.
Hone, president of tha Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers.
The names, n addition to those
announced at Chicago Saturday night.
Include the following:
Denver A. J. I.ovell, W. J. Babe.
Dviluch E. A. Bali.
Los Anselea J. A. Phillip, J. A. Ft
Sjuharson. Omahs J. T. Hushes. X. H. KruM.
St. Paul . N. Merry.
Fan Franciero F. H. Nemlts.
Seattle M. K. Mont emery.
Hi
9,000,000 AUTOS AND TRUCKS
READY FOR EMERGENCY USE
General Manager of National Automobile Chamber of Commerce
Declares Freight, Needed Most, Can Be Handled.
X T EW YORK. Oct. 17. (By tha Aa
J aoclated Press.) Mora than
9,000.000 automobiles and trucks
will be available for emergency use
if the railroad strike called for Oc
tober 10 goes into effect, Alfred
Reeves, general manager of the Na
tional Automobile chamber of com
merce, declared In a statment today.
He said the motor trucks of tha coun
try could easily handle freight neces
sary to relieve emergencies and added
that in cities commuting passenger
traffic could be taken care of by
motor buses.
Farmers, Mr. Reeves said, own 139.
000 trucks, and these, with those in
cities, could be utilized in delivering
food products.
OMAHA. Neb., Oct. 17. (By the As
sociated Press.) Carl R. Gray, presi
dent of the Union Pacific system, in
an Interview published In the Omaha
World-Herald today expressed the
opinion that the threatened railroad
strike, should it materialize, would
not last a great while. He added that
it Is hard for him to foresee any par
ticular distress from a shortage of
essentials due to a strike.
"The railroads," he was quoted as
saying, "are placed in a strange posi
tion. The wage decrease has been
ordered by the same board that pre
viously granted a wage Increase. We
are as much subject to the orders of
this board as are the men. Should
the railroads refuse to abide by such
orders, they would be placed in the
same position as the men now are.
Five-sevenths of the transportation
cost of any person or article is labor,
so you can see how important It Is
that wages be adjusted to permit a
decrease in rates now so vigorously
demanded by all."
WASHINGTON. D. C. Oct 17. (By
the Associated Press.) The threatened
railroad strike was today denounced
as "a most cruel and unjustifiable
attack on the people and govern
ment," by J. H. Defrees, president ot
tha chamber of commerce of the
United USates.
Similar action by the labor groups
in 1919 was avoided, he said, by pas
sage of the Adamson law and labor
leaders at that time could offer in
their defense tha fact Jhat there was
no legally constituted body to render
a decision In the controversy.
"Congress haa now constituted snoh
a tribunal in creation of the railroad
labor board," tha statement said. "If
any one is dissatisfied with the board,
there is open the orderly method of
democracy for obtaining changes."
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 17. The rail
road executives at their meeting in
Chicago last Friday decided that they
would welcome a strike if the em
ployes refused to accept the proposed
10 per cent wage reduction, B. M. Rob
inson, president of the American
Short Line Railroad association, said
at a regional meeting of tha organi
zation here today.
He advised that if the reductidn be
ROAD OFFICERS PREPARE
STRIKE OF ORGANIZED WORK
ERS FULLY EXPECTED.
Public- Sentiment Wholly Against
Walkout, Say Charles Dillon,
Representing Executives.
The association of railway exec
utlves, which represents 204 railroads
of the country, expects that the
threatened strike will become effec.
tive at the time fixed and 1 prepar
ing for It, according to Charles Dillon,
representing the association, who ad
dressed tha members' forum of the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday. He
said he had Just received a telegram
from New York headquarters to that
effect.
Mr. Dillon discussed in detail soma
of the troubles of tha railroad rela
tive t rate and wages. "I have
canvassed many men in many cities
on the proposed strike of the rail em
ployes," he said. "Public sentiment a
obtained from Interviews with heads
of newspapers and others is over
whelmingly against the strike and
the men will be blamed for it This
Is the result of a painstaking canvass
of cities throughout the country.
"The 124 per cent reduction in
wages of July 1 last already has bsen
absorbed In hundreds of lowered
freight rates, mostly commodity rates'.
Any further reduction In wagea will
be reflected instantly in lower rates
for the benefit ot the people.
"The proposed strike will bring out
whether one class shall rule and dic
tate that it shall take none of the
hardships and reductions which all
other people In the United States have
had to take as a result of readjust
ment. If the railroad workers pre
vail you and 1 will have to pay for
the high wages, either directly in the
form of taxes under government own
ership of railroads or in continued
high freight rates. Tha railroads can.
not reduce freight ratea further with
out decrease in operation costs. The
railroad men's wages now are 124 per
cent higher by tha hour than they
were in 1S1.M
The speaker gave soma compari
sons In income and expense between
lflt, before the rallroadB were takes
over by the government, and 1920,
when they had been given back.
"Anybody who demands govern,
ment ownership of railroads is Ignor
ant of the facts." he aid. "From 19H
to 1920 revenues Increased SO per cent
for the railroads." The Passenger
revenues were up 50 per cent and the
freight return were 70 to 74 per
cent greater.
"But expense Increased 110 per
cent. Tha labor bill Is two and one
half times over that of 191. when
the railroads earned per cent as
against 1 per cent earnings in 1920.
Fuel cost has Increased 144 per cent,
taxea 90 per cant, supplies 65 to 70
per cent.
"Efficiency has fallen. Losses and
damages In 1916 were 130.958.000. and
they had increased in 1920 to 1122,
000.000. The government took tha
railroads lata in 1917. From 191K to
1920 the labor cost on railroads rose
from J1.J6S.100. 518 to tl.698.216.351.
The distribution of money received
by railroads In 1920 expressed In cents
per dollar calls for nearly 60 cenfts
for labor. 11 cents for fuel. 17 cents
for material, supplies and miscel
laneous purposes. Of the remaining
12 cents of the dollar-only 1 cent is
available for return on the invest
ment. "There Is nothing so regulated as
the railroads are. They cannot say
what wages shall be. what the rates
shall ba nor how tha work shail bs
handled. They must get permission
to do these things. They are no:
permitted to say what part of the
money shall be kept after it is earned.
"If the railroads get a return ot
( per cent or more the interstate
commerce commission takes one-half
the surplus snd msy say what ehaU
be done with It. This part of the
law die In March, 1921. But aftaf
put in effect, the benefit be passed on
to the shippers in the form ot lower
freight rate.
NEW YORK. Oct 17 (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Necessary steps to con
tinue publio service in any emergency
will be taken by the Southern Pacific
line, -according to a telegram sent to
the New York Herald today from New
Canaan, Conn., by Julius Kruttschnltt,
chairman of the executive committee.
The telegram follow:
"Tha three president of the South
ern Pacific line charged with their
operation may be relied on to tak all
necessary step to continue public
Bervice in any emergency that may
arise. The labor leaders have raised
a sharp issue whether a small mi
nority or the mas of the American
people shall govern our country and
make its laws Railroad officers un
derstand tha nature of their obliga
tions to the public and the sooner all
organized and unorganized employes
also recognize the public nature of
their service tha sooner wa shall have
Industrial peace."
NEW YORK. Oct. 17 (By the As
sociated Press.) A general railroad
strike would have an immediate and
serious effect on steamship lines, ac-
cording to W. L. Marvin, general
manager of the American Steamship
Owners' association.
Curtailment of train service, he
said today, would interfere with the
flow of export to seaboard and a few
dajr would see pier and warehouses
congested with imports.
coastwise lines, it was said, might
bo compelled greatly to Increase pres
ent sailings to care for freight and
passengers. The same will apply to
coast-to-coast traffic, via the Panama
canal.
OTTAWA. Ont., Oct. 17. (By the
Associated Press.) A. R. Mosher,
president of the Brotherhood of Rail
way Employes, said today that the
projected railroad strike in the United
State would not affect Canadian
lines. In several cases In Canada
boards of conciliation are functioning.
FARGO. N. D., Oct. 17. (By the As
sociated Press.) That the threatened
railroad strike will not last more
than a week, because, he said, tha
sufferings of the public will force
the government to take possession of
the roads and operate them, was the
prediction made tonight by Glenn E.
Plumb, originator of the Plumb plan.
CEDAR RAPIDS. Ia., Oct 17. (By
the Associated Press.) L. E. Shep
pard, president of the Order of Rail
way Conductors, said today there
would be a railroad strike and was
making preparations for one, and
while no one wanted to see a Btrike,
"there comes a time when patience
ceases to be a virtue and that time
is now."
Mr. Sheppard appealed to the pub
lic for a square deal for the men
when the strike comes.
that the Interstate commerce com
mission still has the right to say
what the railroads shall earn."
Mr. Dillon goes from here to San
Francisco, where he will speak before
public bodies on the railroad situation.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC IS READY
Mr. Sproule Declares Many 5Ien Do
Not Desire to Strike.
Should tha railroad etrlke 'become
an actuality the Southern Pacific will
not be unprepared, William Sproule,
president, said yesterday just before
he left Portland for San Francisco.
"We have in our system a large
body of men who do not wish to be
coerced into a strike," Mr. Sproule
said. "Their wish is just as strong as
the official staff. If their counsels
prevail in their craft and their
brotherhoods there will be no strike.
"No railroad official in his right
mind want a strike. All his training
and impulses are against strikes. But
if a strike comes the railway mana
gers will find themselves in a posi
tion not only to defend their property
for which they are responsible but
also to defend the rights of tha gen
eral publio. Our hope is that the con
venience and comfort of the great
body of the people and general public
may not be interfered with."
H. E. Lounsberry, general freight
agent of the O.-W. R. & N., Issued a
warning yesterday to shippers of per
ishable products to take what cars
they can to rush shipments through.
In the absence of refrigerator cars he
suggested that apples be loaded in box
cars, which may be protected from
frost by lining them and using
heaters.
MILLION YET TO DECIDE
(Continued From First Page.)
Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Drop
Forgers and Helpers; J. J. Hines,
Sheet Metal Workers' International
Alliance: J. P. Noonan, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers;
Martin Ryan, Brotherhood of Railway
Carmen of America; E. H. Fitzgerald,
Brotherhood of Railway and Steam
ship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Ex
press and Station Employes; T. C.
Cashen, Switchmen's. Union of North
America. - '
Cashen Ia Not Expected.
Mr, Cashen is not expected to at
tend, as his organization already has
cast its lot with the brotherhoods.
The officer of the maintenance of
way employes will ba able to control
their men in whatever decision is
reached. Vice-president J. C. Smock of
IndianapollB, said tonight.
Timothy Healey of the firemen and
oilers arrived today and reiterated
previous assertions that a strike was
certain. Mr. Fitzgerald pointed out
that his men had voted overwhelm
ingly for a strike, although no call
had been issued. E. J. Manion of the
telegraphers is expected tomorrow or
next day and D. W. Helt of the signal
men also ia on the scene.
Key to Situation Is Held.
G. H. Planten of Boston, grand vice
president stated the maintenance of
way men held the key to the situation
and that this union acting alone or
co-operating with others of the rail
road group of tha American Fderation
of Laboi or the big four brotherhood,
would be able effectively to tie up tha
country's transportation system.
"The maintenance of way men may
properly be called the submarine flo
tilla so far as the situation is con
cerned." he said. "For a long time we
have been submerged while the atten
tion of the public haa been directed to
the big four brotherhoods. When rail
road employes' wages were mentioned,
the public Immediately thought of tha
high wages received by conductors
and engineer. No thought waa given
to the wage received by the section
hands.
"The maintenance of way men today
control the situation. If we walk out
the watering, coaling and firing of all
trains stops as well as track work.
However, we have Bane, conservative
leaders who will do the right thing
at the right time. This is no tlaie
to predict what our final action
may be."
L STRIKE ORDERS
PASSED Or! TO
Decision Is Officially An
nounced in Circular.
CODE GIVEN TO CHIEFS
Sealed Envelopes to Be Opened If
Any Message Is Not Understood ;
Circular Is "Dated Chicago.
CLEVELAND. Oct. 17. (By the As
sociated Press.) Official permission
for the railway workers Included In
the "big five" transportation organi
zations to begin the progressive
strike at 6 A. M. October 30, signed
by the heads of the organizations,
was made public tonight by Warren
S. Stone, president of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers. The order'
from the five chiefs was sent to the
general chairmen.
The circular containing the per
mission is under Chicago date of
October 14 and follows:
"To General Chairmen Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers. Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen and En.
ginemen, Order of Railway Con
ductors, Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen and Switchmen's Union of
North America:
"Sirs and Brothers The general
chairmen representing the employes
on the railroads named In ' decision
No. 147 and addenda thereto convened
in Chicago for the purpose ot can
vassing tha referendum vote of their
respective memberships on the ques
tion of wage reduction authorized by
the railroad labor board made ef
fective July 1, 1921, and to deter
mine procedure.
Wlahes of Men Carried Out.
"The vote of membership of the
above-named organization being
overwhelmingly In favor of a strike
in each of the associations represent
ed, the chief executives and the gen
eral chairmen have no alternative
except to carry out the wishes, of the
membership as expressed by their
ballot, therefore said employes and
other of our class will be permitted
to withdraw from the service of their
respective companies at (insert
time for the strike to begin).
"In order that the membership may
be authoritatively informed, each gen
eral chairman will be furnished with
a sufficient number of copies of a
notice adviBing members that a legal
strike has been called, which notice
may be read or exhibited to tha mem
bership. "General chairmen furnished copy
of these instructions will also be fur
nished with copy of a telegram over
the signature of their chief executive
which should not be opened unless a
telegram over- the signature of their
chief executive is received which is
not thoroughly understood, in which
case they will open the sealed envel
ope and if the telegram therein is
found to be in strict conformity with
the telegram received, it will mean
that the strike is declared off and
they will Immediately communicate
with all local chairmen under their
jurisdiction accordingly.
Thorough l aderstnndlna- Urged. -"In
the absence of the proper code
message or a difference between the
sealed Instructions and. tha message
received, local chairmen should not be
instructed to the effect that the strike
Is declared off unless the general
chairmen of all other organizations
participating have received proper
code messages from their chief exec
utives, in which case you will be au
thorized to act accordingly.
"General chairmen should have a
thorough understanding with mem
bers of their several committees as to
any communication they may send to
their respective committeemen, and as
an additional protection general chair
men should not give all member of
tha general committee the same code
word of private Instructions. Each
organization will have a different
code word, words or arrangements.
"General and local chairmen receiv
ing telegrams. Instructions or orders
from superior officers should not act
thereon until they have -conferred
with the other chairmen and should
It develop that the Instructions or
advices are not in harmony, great
care should be exercised and no
action taken until the difference has
been removed. Fraternally your.
"W. S. STONE,
Grand Chief Engineer. B. of L. E.
"W. S. CARTER,
President, B. of L. F. and E.
"L. E. SHEPPARD,
President. O. R. C.
"W. G. LEE,
President, B. of R. T.
"T. S. CASHEN.
International President. S. U. of
- A"
Permission Also Made Public.
Th official strike permission.
signed by the general chairmen and
handed down to tne local euauiucu.
Is also dated Chicago. October 14,
and follows:
"To all local chairmen, members
and others empioyeo in cimw.
service represented by the a. ol l
B. of L. F. and E., O. R. C, B. of
R. T.. and S. U. of N. A.
"Sirs and brothers:
"This is to advise that the vote of
members of the above named organi
zations and others of our class was
overwhelmingly in favor of a strike
on the question of wage reductions
covered in decision No. 147 and ad
denda thereto, issued by the railroad
labor board, effective July 1, 1921.
"Your representatives have made
every reasonable effort to effect a
satisfactory settlement of the issues
as described in the ballot and having
failed in reaching a settlement, a
strike of the members of the above
named organizations and others of our
class, has been approved under the
laws of the organizations involved
and. in accordance with your ex
pressed wish as indicated by your bal
lot, effective on railroad at .
"Impart this information, so that
those interested will understand that
they are to promptly comply with In
structions." RATE 'CUT PLAN BARRED
(Continued From First Tage.)
it. Therefore the labor unions then
were within the law. The present case
Is different. There is now a law which
requires the railways and their em
ployes to submit to the labor board
disputes which may interrupt trans
portation. Railways' Stand Is Cited.
"While the railways complied with
the decision In 1920 for an advance
In wages, the lator brotherhoods now
propose to defy the law and strike
rather than accept a much smaller
reduction in wages. The course of
the labor unions in ordering a strike.
In violation of the decision of the
labor board and In disregard of the
plain provisions of the law is clearly
adopted to nullify these provisions
of the law. . . .
"The railway executives at a meet
ing in Chicago. October 14, decided
to ask tha railroad labor board for a
reduction in "wages and to give the
public in the form of -reductions la
rate all benefit of any further re
duction in wages that were granted.
This, however, afforded the brother
hoods no reason for ordering a strike.
The strike vote was taken on accept
ing the wage reduction already au
thorized by the labor board and not
on a future reduction. The execu
tives, at the Chicago meeting, did not
make any reduction in wages, but
decided simply to seek a further re
duction in accordance with the law,
so that rate might ba reduced.
Legal RUtht ta Strike Denied.
"The railway employea have no
more legal right to strike against it
than the railroads would hava had
to refuse to grant the advance in
wages authorized in 1920 by tha
labor board."
Concerning the labor board publio
group proposal to cut rates Imme
diately, the atatement also said:
"In asking for a further reduction
In wage in order that they may ba
able to grant tha public reductions in
rates, the railways are acting only
In accordance with the laws and In
obedience to zn insistent public de
mand that they shall create condi
tions which will enable them to re
duce rates. The suggestion has been
made in a statement issued by the
publio members of the labor board
that the railways, to prevent a strike,
shall make a reduction in rates equal
to the reduction in wages made Julr
1, and shall postpone seeking a fur
ther reduction in wages.
Ruin la Declared Faced.
"A general reduction In ratea with
out a further reduction in wages
would be ruinous to many railway.
Thus far In 1921. the railways have
earned a net return of only 2 6 per
cent, and although the net earnings
have Increased recently owing largely
to the recent reduction in wages, a
general reduction of rates without a
further reduction In wcaes would put
the railways back in a precarious po
sition financially."
The statement declared that the
roads were in sympathy with the
farmer and desired to help him
through lower ratea Just as quickly
ss possible, but that this wa impos
sible under present wages.
RATES HELD ALREADY CUT
Chairman of Executives Reports
Large Loss In Earnings.
NEW YORK. Oct. 17. Declaration
that the railroads already had
reduced freight rates, "bringing
about a large loss in earnings,"
Thomas Dewitt Cuyler, chairman
of the Association of Railway
Executives, replied to the propo
sition of the public group of the rail
road labor board that the 12 per cent
wage reduction recently authorized
ba translated in lower freight rates
before asking for further wage re
ductions. Mr. Cuyler announced that
the proposition had not been for
mally brought to his attention, his
information being obtained from
press reports.
"There have been extenslva reduc
tions, most of them voluntary. In rail
road rates, bringing about a large
loss in earnings to the railroads, " Mr.
Cuyler declared.
"The reduction of wage made on
July 1 was put Into effect only after
many freight reductions had been
previously made."
He cited many reduction made
after July 1. Including "a reduction on
cargo coal from points in Ohio, west
ern Pennsylvania, West Virginia to
Lake Erie ports, affecting from Au
gust 1 to October 7 soma 14,700.000
tons on which the actual loss of reve
nue to railroads amounted to i4.ll.
000." ,
Reductions had also been made, he
said, on grain and grain products,
road-making materials, export iron
and steel product and scores of other
commod'ties; that on some "railroads
the reductions have amounted to more
than the reductions In wages and on
many other railroads the reduction
in wages allowed no return on opera
tions, but merely provided against
further accumulation of a deficit."
F. D. Underwood, president of the
Erie railroad, tonight expressed the
hope that tha strike would actually
occur. "This is the time and the
place for t," he declared, adding that
tha "strike was one, against the um
pire or the raltroad labor board."
"It should be understood," he said,
"that the present strike movement,
analyzed, .amounts to this: It I dif
ferent from any other strike in that
it is not directed against railways,
but against the verdict of a body
constituted by congress, who, after
a hearing, fixed wages, not at tha in
stance of the interested parties, but
founded on condition developed by
evidence. '
"The real purpose ia not appre
ciated by some of us. It is to bring
ebout government control the desire
of labor bodies, some part of the pub
lic and some members of congress.
"Railroad labor haa the idea that
under government control they are
better off: naturally they are for it.
A leader of the railway conductors,
when asked why hi men preferred
rovernment control, said: 'Because
the conditions ara better and the
discipline not so sharp.'
"We are back at the old junction.
Are a minority to starve and incon
venience their paymasters, the public
for the reason that a board of um
pires, on which they (the men) were
represented, falls to suit their view?"
Mr. Underwood said there need be
no fear that the malls would not be
carried.
RAIL LINES HELD READY
O.-W. R. & N. Official Says Roads
Prepared for Strike.
CHEHALrS, Wash.. Oct. 17. (Spe
cial.) William Carruther of Ta
coma, district freight and passenger
gent of the O.-W. R. & N. lines, at
today' Citizens' club luncheon said
that the railroad organizations are
prepared to fight to a successful fin
ish the proposed strike that ha been
called. The proposed strike wss
characterized a next to the late war
the most important question that ha
come before the people of the country.
The proposed rollcall of the Lewis
County Red Cross chapter, of which
Chehalls is the official head was of
ficially launched, the work to begin
Armistice day. Reports of the work
of the local chapter the last year
both in soldier and civilian relief
work was given by the secretary.
Mrs. Eda Balfour. Chairman School
and Don G. Abel, who will have
charge of-the rollcall, and others
spoke.
RICH MEJf TO RUN TRAINS
Volunteer Crew Is Ready to Serve
Again in Case ot Strike.
UADTIIC1V1WV Ttf T rf 17 Tha
men who operated the "Millionaires'
Special" on the Delaware, Lacka
wanna w western rnuruau, urmgiiis
1920 railroad strike, are ready again
lor write.
. i w, .-
hall, banker, said today that if the
tnreatenea iinna ucwiuea eeij
man would be found at bis post
Cincinnati Lay-Off Announced.
CINCINNATI, Oct 17. The South
ern railway, the only road entering
Cincinnati whose men will strike
October 30, has announced a lay-off
of about SO men employed at the
shops at Ludlow, Ky., effective
Thursday.
STRIKE SETTLEUM
DECLARED POSSIBLE
Peace Put Up to Railways or
to Government.
ENGINEER CHIEF TALKS
I Warren S. Stone Says Plan for New
Cut In Wages Is Directly Re
sponsible lor Walkout.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Oct 17. vBy
the Associated Preaa.) The progrea
siva railroad strike scheduled to be
gin October 10 can be settled by the
railroad or prevented by the govern
ment Warren S. Stone, president of
tha Brotherhood of Locomotive En
gineers, said tonight when asked his
opinion.
Mr. Stone said tha causa of the
trlk 1 largely because of the action
of the railroad managers In request
ing a further 10 per cent wage re
duction and elimination of favorable
working agreements on upward of
1i roads, in addition to the 12 per
cent waga reduction effective last
July 1. .
The railroads can settle the strike
by the elimination of these condi
tions, he said. "The' government can
prevent the strike by taking over the
railroads, and thia is what will hap
pen eventually," he said. He also
Issued a statement covering the men's
positions and their reasons for strik
ing. Groups Are Made Pablle.
' Mr. Stone made public the four
groups of roads on which the strike
is scheduled to begin, the first group
going out at A. M. Sunday, October
SO, and the others in 48-hour periods.
The Pennsylvania, one of the largest
systems, is one of the last to be hit.
No explanation waa given for this
action.
It also was explained that all the
organizationa in some of the roads in
group four are not officially au
thorized to strike, some organization
not casting the necessary 66 2-3 per
cent vote in favor of the walkout
"The big five" Ieadera expect, how
ever, that all organizations on such
roads will follow the general walk
out being influenced to join the
trike by seeing their brothers quit.
Strike Declared Desired.
Mr. Stone said he believed thst tha
railroads "want a strike," and that a
further reduction in wages is much
less desirable to the railroad execu
tives than the abrogation of rules
and re&ulatione.
"The railroad executives can settle
the dispute or the United States gov
ernment can prevent a strike." Mr.
Stone declared. "'Talcing over the
railroads is the mont effective way in
which tha government can avert the
strike scheduled for October 30.
"If it had been a question of wage
reductions only there would have
been no strike. I have from 75 to 100
letters giving Instances of attempts
by different railroads to break down
the working rules that have been se
cured by arbitration, by decisions of
the railroad labor board and In other
ways. The railroads can settle the
strike by the elimination of these
conditions and withdrawal of their
request for a further 10 per cent wag
reduction."
Employea' Hope Is Cited,
A statement by Mr. Stone,-explaining
the men's position and their rea
sons for striking, follows in part:
"When the transportation act of
1920 became a law It was hoped by
the employes that all disputes would
be adjusted and decisions rendered
by the board would be compiled with
by the carriers and employes. In
stead of complying with the decisions
of the labor board, the railroads soon
began to disregard or flout Us de
cisions, flagrant cases of this being
the action of tha Atlanta, Birming
ham &. Atlantic, th Erie, the Penn
sylvania railroad and many other
cases.
"It is admitted bV all that the rail
road men were the last to receive
any Increase during the war. During
August, 1919, the Brotherhood of Lo
comotive Engineers submitted to
President Wilson a statement Betting
forth that a decrease In the cost of
the necessities of life was necessary
or an increase in wage was impera
tive. "From that time on the question of
wages wa discussed on different
occasions and was finally submitted
to the labor' board. In July, 1920 the
board handed down a decision which
based on all the facts they declared
was just and equitable and further
stated that their conclusions were
reached after long consideration of
Ian ine iat,ia as cnutui.Lu j
testimony.
Atterbnry Demand Recalled.
"Later Mr. Atterbury of the Penn
sylvania railroad in a spectacular
presentation, demanded an immediate
reduction of the wages of all railroad
employes notwithstanding the car
riers had been granted a material In
crease In freight and passenger rates
to meet the Increased wages. This was
denied on technical grounds because
the carrier had not properly created
a dispute in accordance with the
transportation act.
"The railroads then began to serve
notice on all employes demanding re
ductions in pay, thereby legally cre
ating a dispute which was referred to
the labor board resulting in a 12 per
cent reduction as of July 1.
"To aggravate the situation further,
immediately following this meeting a
great number of the railroads served
notice on thlr employes that thej
would revise a schedule and take from
them rules governing their service
that had been In effect for fram ten
to SO years. The majority of such
rules were the result of negotiations
with representatives of the organiza
tions and the managers of the indi
vidual railroads and acknowledged to
be fair and equitable.
Conference Is Arranged.
"A conference of all general chair
men was arranged to be held in July
in Chicago. The result was to in
struct executives of the organizations
to meet executives of the railroads
prior to September 1 for the purpose
of trying to bring about an amicable
adjustment. This was done and a
committee of railroad executives were
met in the east, southeast and west
ern territories, their answers all be
ing similar and denying any concil
iatory measures. Following the re
fusal of the executives of the railways
to enter into any agreement with
the executives of the organizations,
there was nothing left to do but refer
the matter to a referendum vote of
the workers. In October the repre
sentatives of the workers were con
vened in Chicago and a canvass of
the vota was made which indicated
that 94 per cent plus were in favor
of withdrawing from the service.
Such a condition was never known
before In the history of railroad labor
and no doubt was caused by the ar
rogant selfish attitude of the rail
road executives together with their
declination to be a party, to any con
ciliatory terms.
"After tha vote had been canvassed
the chairmen of tha railroad owners'
association wa notified by wir of
the result and the request for a con
ference committee was made. Tha 150
railroad presidents meeting In Chicago
named a committee of five railroad
presidents to meet executive officer
of the transportation brotherhoods.
They declined to make any conces
sion or offer any solution providing
for a settlement, but Instead notified
us that a resolution would be adopted
by the railroad presidents asking the
labor board for a further wage re
duction. Then, and not until then,
was permission given for men to leave
the service.
(Signed) "WARREN S. STONE."
The "big five" chiefs or their rep.
resentatlves will convene tomorrow
to consider strike matters.
Tha strike will not affect tha so
called short-line roads, it was ex
plained by W. G. Lee, president of
the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men, Inasmuch as they were not af
fected by the waga increases and re
ductions In which th large roads
figured. i
Chairman Barton of the railroad la
bor board, announced that he and
other member of the public group ex
pected to leave Washington tonight
for Chicago. Reports that they would
take with them definite instruction
as to a prospective move In the strike
crisis could not ba confirmed.
LABOR ALSO DOUBTS PLAN
Leaders Declare Rate Cut Would
Not Prove Feasible.
CLEVELAND. Oct. 17. (By the
Associated Press.) The proposal of
the public group of the railroad labor
board to reduce freight rates to pre
vent a railroad strike would not
prove feasible. Warren S. Stone, grand
chief of tha Brotherhood ot Railroad
Engineers, declared today.
"The suggestion cannot be worked
out," Mr. Stone said. "By th tlm
the reduction got to the consumer it
would not amount to one-half of 1
per cent The middleman would ab
sorb all of the difference."
W. G. Lee, president of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen,
would make no direct statement
today on the feasibility of the plan.
"Our understanding, and I believe
that of the public also, was that the
12 per cent wage reduction of last
July would be passed on to the
public," Mr. Lee said.
Neither Canadian roads nor the
Southern Pacific lines in Mexico will
be affected by the strike, Mr. Lee
said. The lines in Mexico are not
organized, he said.
STATION MEN ALSO MAY QUIT
Counting of Ballots in Strike Vote
Is Proceeding.
BOSTON, Oct 17. The Brother
hood of Railroad Station Employes,
an Independent organization, prob
ably will take action similar to that
of the big four brotherhoods in or
dering a walkout of members, P. J.
Coyle, president, said today.
The counting of ballots In a strike
vote taken by the station employes
is stilt proceeding, he addeti. He
said hj thought that unless a further
cut in wages waa made there would
be no serious interruption in railroad
service.
i
St. Louis Baggage Strike Ends,
ST. LOUIS, Oct 17. The Btrike of
277 baggage handlers at the Union
station, which began Thursday, ended
today. The strikers' places were tilled
quickly and officials of the terminal
railroad association announced that
the men would be taken back only as
vacancies arose. The strike resulted
from the discharge of ona man.
Two Others Minimize Proposal.
ST. LOUIS. Oct. 17. Presidents of
two railroads having general offices
here today said that the railroads
could mat adopt th suggestion of the
railroad labor board that the roads
put into effect rate reductions equiv
alent to wage reductions authorized
last July.
Columbus Yardmasters Stay In.
COLUMBUS, O., Oct 17. There will
be no strike of tha Railroad Yard
masters of America, whose headquar
ters are here, according to W. M.
Brown, grand secretary - treasurer.
"This organization is not a striking
organization," he said.
Legion Offers Air Pilots.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.. Oct 17. The
aviation committee of the American
Legion executive committee today
telegraphed Postmaster-General Hays
offering to recruit volunteer pilot for
the air mall service in the event of a
general railroad strike.
ETHICS URGED ON PRESS
Truth In News Will Contribute to
World Peace, Says Speaker.
HONOLULU, T. H., Oct. 17. True
news and a lofty standard of journal
istic ethics were urged as a means
to better international understanding
ana permanent peace, in an address
before the press congress of the world
today by Ludwig Saxe, secretary of
the Norwegian Press association.
Declaring falsehoods have generally
been the cause of war, Mr. Saxe ex
pressed the conviction that through
a better understanding among jour
nalists and a determination to present
only truth permanent peace can be
accomplished. He declared the pres
ent international press congress an
important factor In forming Journal
istic ethics ajul a better international
understanding.
LEGION TO MEET ANYWAY
Commander Says Session Will Be
Held Despite Strike.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 17 Com
mander Emery of the American Le
gion, in a telephone conversation
with A. E. Hutchings of Kansas City
late today, stated that the national
convention of the legion, scheduled
here October 31, November 1-2, would
take place even though the general
railroad strike call should go Into
effect October 30.
Commander Emery counseled those
in charge of the convention arrange
ments against further urging that the
Pinched noses lens loose or out of focus '
anything at all in the way of service is
done gladly here any time without
charge.
COLUMBIAN
Optical Company
Floyd F. Brower, Mgr.
(Not Connected With Any Other
Optical Concern.)
145 Sixth, Near Alder
HAZELWOOD
ORCHESTRA
J. F. N. Colburn, Director
Tonight's Programme
6 to 8 and 9:30 to 11:30
1. An Eastern Dance, "Erlbus"
Geo. J. Trinkaus
2. Waltz. "ChantiUV
E. Wahlteufel
I. Overture. "Czaar - und - Zlm-
mermann A. Lortzlng
4. (a) Walts, "In My Tippy
Canoe" Fred Fisher
(b) Fox Trot. "Spread l'o"
Stuff" Levy-Crane Bernard
E. Chanson, "Indoue"
Rimsky - Karsakow
6. Selection, "La Boheme"
G. Puccini
T. Intermezzo, "Al Fresco"
Victor Herbert
8. (a) "Aragonalse," from "Le
Cid" G. Massenet
(b) Chanson, "Sans Paroles"..
P. Tschalkowsky
9. "Air de Ballet". .Victor Herbert
10. "Oh. Joy" Billy Schroeder
A delightful programme every
night, 6 to 8 and 9:30 to 11:30.
WASHINGTON ST.
TazGl(DOod
CJ VcONFECTIONEJCr' A RESTAURAK1
388 Washington Street
Near Tenth
CHE
strike ba delayed a week so as not to
Interfere with tha convention. He
said: "Such an appeal is not dignified
and the American legion doea not
have to get down on its knees and
supplicate the organizations to have
the convention.
"The speakers scheduled to speak
will be there and the delegates will
be there. The American legion will
see that they are there."
PUBLISHER PUT ON TRIAL
Man Who Attacked Wilson In Ar
ticle Charged With Draft Evasion.
NEW YORK. Oct. 17. Linn A. E.
Gale, who during the war published
a magazine in Mexico City, was put
on trial before a court-martial on
Governor's island today charged with
evading the draft, publishing articles
attacking Woodrow Wilson when he
waa president and printing articles
encouraging resistance to the draft.
After the charges had been outlined,
the trial was adjourned for a week
at the request of the defense.
YEGGS GET $25,000 LOOT
Des Moines Jeweler Bound and
Gagged and Diamonds Stolen.
DES MOINES, Ia., Oct. 17. Two
hold-up men obtained diamonds val
ued at $25,000 today, when they held
up, bound and gagged Simon Kamen,
Jeweler.
The robbery took place In the heart
of Oes Moinen' hunlnep district.
The truth -the
w-t-and
n-b -t t
'ivJ3 There is one
hat that never
, disappoints
j it s good
yesterday
! today
V" tomorrow
THE
LANPHER
HAT '
i .
Flowers'
for the dance
and theater
A CORSAGE bouquet of
favorite flowers that
enhances the loveliness of
milady's evening gown is
essential absolutely espe
pecially when it's a dance
or at the theater.
Deliveries promptly made
by any florist on the hour
specified.
Say
it with
Flowers