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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1921)
TIIE MORXIXO OREGOXIAX, MONDAY. OCTOBER 24, 1921 RAIL LABOR BLAMES LINES i'II BOARD Statement Is Issued by Four Strike Leaders. STAND HELD JUSTIFIED Reduction In Freight Hates De clared "Not Even Considered Before Walkout Crisis.' CLEVELAND. O., Oct. 23. (By the Associated Tress ) Responsibility for the railroad strike, scheduled to be gin next Sunday, was placed on the railroad labor board and the carriers in a' statement issued today. This and the announcement that all gen eral chairmen ot the "big five" broth erhoods, numbering about 600, also have been cited to appear before the board In Chicago Wednesday, fea tured today's strike developments liere. . The attitude of the union chiefs was explained following a conference of four of the big five leaders In a state ment by W. S. Stone, president of the llrotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, in which the hope that a solution fa vorable to the employes might be found, was Intimated. Stand Ik Outlined. It was Indicated that the state ment may be regarded as an outline of the stand the labor leaders will take when they appear before the labor board in Chicago Wednesday. The statement said: "With regard to the position of the employes of the railroad, we can only say that their representatives are pa tiently waiting for any development that would appear to offer a solution of the problem confronting them. "we are not now nor have we ever been desirous of being a party to pre cipitating a strike, but when It Is quite apparent that the railroads pro pose not only reduced wages, but to take from those employes practically all conditions of service maintained for many years, and the labor board Is unable, or fails to give us any as surance that the interests of the em ployes will be protected, nothing is lift for the employes but to stand on their constitutional rights to retire irom the service. Rate Kedartlon Discussed. "We are advised through the newspapers that the Interstate com merce commission has authorized a considerable reduction In freight rat ps. "Notwithstanding the fact- that wages have been reduced 12 per cent luce July 1, there was no talk about a reduction of freight rates until this criHis. Now the railroads are at , tempting to gain the sympathy of the public by this late reduction of rates. "The public never would have re ceived this reduction with the con sent of the railroads had the rail roads not been confronted with this emergency." Hesides Mr. Stone, others attending the conference were W. O. Lee, presi dent of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen: L. E. Sheppard. president of the Order of Railway Conductors, and W. S. Carter, president of the l.rotherhood ot Locomotive Firemen . and Enginemen. Open SUop DuvcuMed. Establishment of open shop con ditions on the Tremont and Gulf rail rrtid and the strike yesterday of trainmen on the International & Great Northern railroad were under d'.scusslon. President Lee stated he had received reports that practically 100 per cent of the I. & G. N. train men had quit the service. A subordinate leader, however, said that if it Is correctly reported, the men on the Tremont & Gulf railroad have accepted open shop conditions, t: Is because they are few In num ber and have little hope of their re sistance being successful. They in timated this situation will be brought to the attention of the labor board Wednesdny. 1000 Offirlnls Arc Cited. It was learned the chiefs have re ceived telegrams from many- of the pen.-ral chairmen reporting they were cited by the railroad labor board to appear Wednesday. It was said that In all approximately 1000 officials of the unions and of the railroads were cited to appear. ('resident Sheppard of the conduc tors, commenting on the action of the shop crafts in voting against joining . tue strike said: ''I do not construe their action to be a break with the brotherhoods. They are probably reserving to them selves . the right to take action in their own way." Statement In Issued. President Lee of the trainmen Is sued a statement on the "human side" cf the railroad wage question, say ing: "It Is to be wondered whether the public really understands the railway wage reduction question. There are more through freight brakemen than all other train and yard service em ployes combined and this class of service and the passenger train em ployes represent the lowest rates of wages paid. "A through freight brakeman re celves I4.4S for an eight-hour day or &6 cents an hour. If the proposed wage cut is made effective, he will re reive 61 cents, or M .08 a day. Pas senger service employes receive two cents an hour more and local freight and yardmen receive a slightly higher rate. Overtime Is Limited. "This means that tne bulk of the train service employes receive about t?7 a week for a six-day week, and whatever is earned above that amount is through extra service. The service Is paid for on a mileage basis but not on an eight-hour basis except for freight runs within 100 miles. Overtime is not paid on a strictly eight-hour basis, except In yard service and on runs up to 1 t'O miles. "The low-paid train and yard em ployes have to meet the same high cost of lllng that the public must meet. They are asking only fair serv ice conditions and a fair day's pay. "The railroads do not tell the whole truth of dally wages paid when they quote higher amounts of wages earned, because they do not say they represent time and extra time.' All Action Left to Board. WASHINGTON. D. C, Oct. 23. A waiting attitude toward the Impend ing railroad strike still prevails in cf.'icial circles today and no modi fication of the Indicated intention of the administration to leave ail direct conduct of dealings with it to the railroad labor board was observable The cut ordered by the Interstate commerce commission in western grain rates remained the only salient move of the government. Calculation upon this, prepared for the Association of Railway Execu tives. Indicated that the freight de crease would make a difference of 2 cents a bushel on average shipment i,r utU . SUNDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS tV THE RAILROAD STRIKE 1 SITUATION. San Antonio Labor leaders' claim of 600 trainmen In Inter national & Great Northern, which started Saturday, is "100 per cent effective." but road says passenger service 1 unimpaired and that resumption of freight service, halted Saturday, has been started. Cleveland Big four brotherhood chiefs say that if "trlkJ materialises the blame should be placed on the railroad labor board and on railroads. Chicago Railroad heads say action of majority of 11 "standard unions In refusing to Join a strike now ha broken the oackbon of the proposed walkout. Str'ke ballot being taken among 14.000 organized signalmen, of the proposed walkout. Official representing 350.000 member of the railway clerks' organization vote NOT to authorise a strike at present, thu limiting the number of prospective striker to about one-fourth of the total rail employe. O.-W. R. & Is, trainmen only one In Portland yet to receive strike order. . Figures compiled by union chiefs showed eight of the Is chlet rail unions have called a strike for October 30 or announced offi cially they would Join one and that those eight organisations number 873.000 of the approximately 2.000.000 railroad employes On the other side, nine unions, controlling more than a million men. have announced they would not strike and the other one 1 expected to act soon. Of the S73.000 men In the organisation which announced they would strike, 833.500 voted for a walkout. Figures for all organisations which have acted show a total membership of 1.473.000 with 1.258.000 authorizing a walkout. The following table give the union' Idea of the strike situa tion in figures: "Big Five" Trainmen, Switch- Action Member men. Conductors. Engineers and taken. ship. Firemen Strike order. 400,000 Order of Railroad Telegraphers. .Will join strike. 75,000 International Brotherhood Sta tionary Firemen and Oilers. .. .Will not strike. 25,000 United Brotherhood Maintenance of Way Employes and Railroad Shop Laborer Will not strike. 173,000 Brotherhood of Railroad Signal men of America ...No action yet. 14,000 ...... Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerk. Freight Handlers, Express and Station - , Employes Will not strike. 350,000 Shop crafts Carmen, electrical workers, machinists, black smiths, sheet metal workers and bollermaker Will not strike. 800.000 435.000 While the shop crafts control 800,000 men, according to union figures, only 475,000 cast ballots and of these 436,000 voted for a strike. Voted to strike. 376.000 70.000 23,500 363.000 APPEAL TO UNIONS MADE SOUTIIERV PACIFIC PRESI DENT ISSUES STATEMENT. Employes Urged to Stay on Job; Strikers to Lose Rights Under Seniority Rale. - An appeal to the patriotism of the members of tne railroad brother hoods In an ettort to cause them to remain at their posts of duty was sent out from San Francisco yester day by William Sproule, president of the Southern Pacific. The appeal was. sent out under the heading--of "A Friendly Word to Southern Pacific Employes." Attention is called by the railroad executive to the fact that the trans portation act of 1920 created the rail road labor-board for the express pur pose of settling disputes between the companies and the brotherhoods, and that a strike at this time will be a violation of the law. There are no wage dispute be tween this company and its employes at this time," said Mr. Sproule a let ter. "If such a dispute does arise it will, so far as this company is con cerned, take its proper course to the labor board, where the decision would rest, if we cannot agree among ourselves. "Questions as to working conditions on which the company and Its em ployes differ are now before the labor board, having been already submit ted for its decision. This company has obeyed the decision of the labor board, and. dealing with questions under dispute, but not yet decided, this company has done what the law said we should. Then what i thi proposed strike about? . "Let us submit this to you as fair minded men," said the letter: "It is not fair to the labor board to have accepted its decision when the board gave increases in wages and yet re fuse to accept the decision of the same board when the decision re duces wages, it being the duty of the board to fix wages that are Just and reasonable from time to time, con sidering the varying conditions. The fact Is that if the strike is called it will be against the labor board's de cision reducing wages July 1, 1921, and against that only." Attention Is called to the fact that when the railroad men took up their work in the public service of trans portation they assumed a responsibil ity to the people of the United States. "Now it is proposed to attack the labor board by wrecking that service to the public and the government which It is your duty to maintain as railroad men," said the letter. "Employes who remain loyally In their work and new men who come In to help you will be protected in their work and rights." he said. "You will have the advantage of increased seniority In service that will come through vacancies made by any who quit. Those who do quit have the knowledge that they lose their Jobs, their pension privileges and their seniority. : Mr. Sproule advised the men that In case they desert the union and lose their insurance, the company will assume the insurance and carry It on at no higher rates than they have been paying. firemen, engineers, conductor and the trainmen. The meeting has been called to give instructions for a strike If any arrive by that time. The one order received here was as follows: "The employes In yard and train service under the Jurisdiction of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen have been instructed to withdraw from the service of the O.-W. R. & N. at 6 A. M.; November 8. They are further anstructed that acts of violence will not be tolerated The employes are instructed to go away from the property of the com pany and stay away from it. "All employes in these classes are Instructed to leave the eervlce, as there la no difference between a mail train and a freight train as far as our rights to strike are concerned." U. S. C0r.TR0L HELD AIM OF RAIL STRIKE Strike Leader Is Quoted as Making Statement. WALKOUT DECLARED TOOL BE PAY AVERAGE 14.54 STATISTICS ARE COMPILED BY LABOR BOARD. Comparison Made to $2.87 Aver age for All Grades of Work In 191 7 Last Cut Included. CHICAGO, Oct. 23. Statistic com piled by the railroad labor board In its consideration of the wages of railroad employes show that the average daily rate of pay for all grades of work now Is $4.54 as compared with an av erage rate of 32.87 In 1917. The present rate Includes the wage cut authorized July 1 bv the board. This cut averaged about 12 H per cent. The following table is taken from board figures, column one showing the percentage of cut in the July wage decision, column two the percentage still remaining over December. 1917, wages, column three the average rate per day now and column four the av erage rate of pay per day in 1917: Supervisory forces 6.8 63.4 $8.01 $5.34 Clerical and station.. 12.2 C4.6 4.18 2.M Maintenance of way and unskilled 17.4 85. T S.8S 2 111 Shop employes 10 OS .14.0 6 47 8 SS Telegraphers, etc 8.0 82.8 4.84 1(1 Engine ftt-r. employes.. 9. 04 fi.y 8.81 8.HH Train a-rvlce 10.7 04.0 0.3d S.3: Stationary enalneers and firemen.' 12.7 92.8 4 19 1.1S Slimal department 10.0 66.8 6.50 3 30 Marine department.... 9.8 88.8 6.69 8.01' Present average for all grades of em Dloyes. 84.54. 1917 average for all grades of em ployes. 350,000 DESERT STRIKE (Continued From Flrat Page. ) ONE STRIKE ORDER HERE TRAINMEN" ONLY ONES IX PORT- LAND YET INSTRUCTED. Mass Meeting of Workers Adjourned Without Any Action Taken. One Chairman Goes East. The only strike, order to railway employes in Portland to be received has been to the trainmen employed on the O.-W. R. & N who go out November 8. This Information was conveyed to the men here through F. D. Hobbs. general chairman for the O.-W. R. & N. members of the Broth erhood of Railway Trainmen. Hobbs left yesterday for Chicago, where he has been cited, along with other chairmen, to appear before the labor board next Wednesday. The Southern Pacific trainmen have been expecting strike orders dally. J. T. Clough, chairman, left yesterday for San Francisco to see if he could learn anythlnji concerning strike or ders which have not yet arrived here. There was a mass meeting yester day at 129 Fourth street of the six railway shop crafts, railway clerks, maintenance of way employes and te legraphers. The meeting was called to receive strike Instructions but they did not arrive. No plans for a etrtke and no move can be made locally until such instructions arrive. The meeting adjourned without taking any action. About 200 of the 1200 Portland men belonging to these unions were pres ent. ; There will be a Joint meeting to morrow night in the Alisky building of the local unions of the four broth oraoods, which are composed of strike, if it materializes, would affect all train-service men, officials said that service would not be Impaired for more than a day or two and that these men would be quickly replaced. Possibility that the situation on the Tremont A Oulf railway in Louisiana, which recently Installed the open shop, would be brought to the atten tion of the labor board again by the unions caused considerable Interest among board members when shown the dispatches from Cleveland. Board members said they considered that matter settled. Woodburn Home Burns. WOODBURN. Or., Oct. 23. (Spe cial.) While the family were absent this afternoon the house of Dan Webb caught fire and burned to the ground, all of the contents, including small sum in cash, being consumed. The loss was about $3000, and it was said there was no Insurance. The cause was not determined. Ex-Dry Officer Acquitted. SPOKANE. Wash, Oct. 23. William C. Vest, ex-federal prohibition officer of Tacoma, was acquitted by a jury this evening of a charge of man slaughter in connection with the laying of Ernest C. Emley at Keller. Wash., in May, 1920. FOR One American Steam Pump No. 48 One Demming Hand-Force Pump Complete with 60 feet of 2-inch pipe. H. A. West Hillsdale, Or. Telephone Main 4768 Ii. V. Marshall Says Everyone Thinks Complete Tieup of Lines Would Be Impossible. BTLV. MARSHALL. (Copyright. 1921. by The Oregonlan.) WASHINGTON. D. C. Oct. 22. (Spe cial.) "It Is the sheerest kind of nonsense tu say that the railroads can be tied up so tight that they cannot run, because we know that the railroads are going to run under some form or other. If not In any other way the government will open up the lines of communication and run them, because the people have to live.". This is not the statement of a rail way executive, but the words of Warren S. Stone, grand chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the most powerful of the four broth erhood groups that took the lead in ordering the nation-wide railroad strike made to a committee of con gressmen. It conveys clearly the un derlying principles of the proposed strike. It was made at the time that the railroad brotherhoods issued a statement In which these words were used: Labor ITnrest Increase. The railroad employers are in no mood to brook the return of the lines to their former control, olnce all the plans suggested for this settlement of the problem leave labor essen tially where it has stood and where it is determined not to stand." Thus it is that ever since the rail roads were given back to private ownership there has been increasing unrest among the labor leaders, and a determination to force at the first favorable opportunity, their demand that the government buy the rail roads and turn the operation of them over to the employes under what Is known as the Plumb plan. Warren Stone himself has served as president of the Plumb plan league. His state ment, quoted at the beginning of this article, clearly reflects the view of the grand chief that the railway workers, by strike or otherwise, can not exclusively stop the railroads. What they have felt all along they could do would be to force the gov ernment once mor into control of the transportation systems in the hope that out of this control would come new agitation and possible success of the Phimb p-lan. Strike Near for Two Tears, For more than- two years now the railway emp-loyes have been con stantly on the verge of a strike. The threat of the strike has constantly been applied, so much in fact many persons have been Inclined to regard the strike orders now out as Just an other gesture on the part of the union leaders. The fact that so much time was allowed to elapse between the Issuance of the order and the effective date of the walkout gave further color to this surmise. The constant talk of strike is no doubt responsible for the mood of many of the railway executives who have declared their willingness to fight the Issue out at this time. Pres ident Harding ami the other officers of the administration have felt, how ever, that in such a fight to the finish the public would be the suf ferer in the long run. They further have felt that the labor board, a government agency, was being flouted by both sides and that the govern ment must stand behind this board to the limit. New Interest Is Created. The moves of the proposed strike of next week are given a new Inter est by reference to statements of the brotherhood leaders made during the last two years. When the brother hoods declared the workers were in no mood to brook the return of the roads to private ownership. Chief Stone was asked the purpose and in tent of the declaration. "The purpose and intent." ho re plied, "was that we are bitterly op posed to the roads being returned to the old P,lan of private ownership, with the Btruggle of organized labor to maintain that which it was Justly entitled to." Mr. Stone declared It would be the purpose of the brotherhoods to create public sentiment lor the Plumb plan "through every means at our com mand, through every channel open to us." ' "Would you seek ' to develop it througih a strike?" he was asked. "No; 1 am speaking now only for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi neers, of which I am the executive officer. We have maOe no threat of any strike for the Plumb plan. After we have waited a reasonable time to see what congress does, then If there Is no constructive plan put forward, I think w will be able to formulate a plan for the railroads." Federal Control Is I' rsred. Congress was considering the Esch Cummlns bill under which the rail roads are now operating at the time Mr. Stone protested. "I think the time ha arrived." he said, "when the government should take over the railroads and I think any other plan which proposes to turn them back simply means - financial panto and chaos." At the close of his discussion of the unrest in labor and the fault of the government to check the high cost of living. Chief Stone Issued thi warning to congress in 1919: "I want to say this to you and it Is not in the spirit ot threat that I make the statement that unless congress or someone finds a solution of this problem within the next few months and I do not mean in two or three years, but within the next few months you are going to see the worst time that we have ever seen in this country, because the people are not going to fold their hands and sit themselves down while starv ing. buOhy will die fighting." 3 FREIGHT TR1S MOVE STRIKE FAILS TO TIE VP LIXE IX TEXAS. International & Great Northern System Operates With Men From Waiting List. HOUSTON, Tex Oct. 23. Three freight trains were operated on the International & Great Northern sys tem today. General Manager Goforth announced tonight. This follows a complete tie-up of freight service Sat urday by the strike of approximately 600 union trainmen. Union officials declared they had adopted a policy of "hands off and would not interfere with any move the company might make to resume service. Mr. Goforth stated that the crews were made up of recruit of several applications on file and from officials. No distinction is being made between union or nonunion men, he stated, declaring several applications had been received from union men. ' Armed guards patroled the proper ties of the company, but not one in stance of violence marked the second day of the walkout. Movement of freight traffic In the yards here was at a standstill. "The strike so far has been entirely successful to our cause," union of ficials declared. "We did not expect to tie up passenger service. We took into account at the outset that with so few men called out working on pas senger trains that they would be able to recruit enough men from among officials to fill out a crew. But we have demonstrated what a few men out means and we are satisfied." Mr. Goforth stated that outside of the reports to him that a few freight trains were operating there had been no change in the general situation. "We are feeling our way cautiously," he said, "and expect soon to have serv ice resumed." FOUR BODIES EXHUMED AMERICA'S 'UNKNOWN SOL DIER' TO BE SELECTED TODAY. Sergeant Will Pick War Victim Who Is to Be Brought Home for Burial in Arlington. CHALONS SUR MARNE, France, Oct. 23. (By the Associated Press.) Four bodies of unidentified American soldiers who fell in the world war, from among whom will be chosen America's "unknown soldier" for burial in Arlington, were brought to day to the city hall in preparation for the simple ceremony tomorrow. One body came from each of the four permanent American cemeteries in France Romagne, Triaucourt, Bony and Belleau Wood. Sergeant E. S. Younger, headquar ters company, 2d battalion of the 50th infantry, was selected tonight by Ma jor R. P. Harbold to choose the body. An' American army truck brought the bodies to Chalons, where a French guard of honor composed of pollus who saw action carried the coffins to the city hall. French soldiers ren dered military honors. Non-commissioned officers from Co blen stood guard in a dimly-lighted room, while in an outside room the French guard of honor took up posi tions. The people of Chalons brought flowers and heaped them at the foot of the coffins. Pioneer Oil Man Dead. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., Oct. 23. J. C. Macspadden 82 years old, an ex partner of John D. Rockefeller in the oil business and a Minneapolis pio neer, died Saturday at Waaco, Cat., according to information received by relatives here. , Mr. Macsradden. who I TJMDER STATE SUPERVISION I I 1 1 zr The Proof of Confidence The mutual savings and loan associa tions of the United States, to which class this institution belongs, number more than eight thousand and have four million members with combined assets in excess of two billion dollars. They have such a record for sound-. ness and stability that failure is almost unheard of and practically impossible. Ample evidence that the Union Savings & Loan Association has the confidence of the investing public is shown by its phenomenal growth since its inception. Healers Aoeti He?. 26. 1917, heps bat. 7 - $586.10 Dec. 31, 1918 - 191 - $7,403.52 Dec 31, 1919 - 1004 - $41,430.55 : Dec. 31, 1920 -2865 -$181,878.11 Jane 30, 1921 -3600-$290,434.42 it,f.LssajfjJjsjM ""v The rapnew sugar-coated i vnSs&y chewing gum J SnJr vtfilch everybody T s likes you wUUw lWfoX JgTjS A delicious jMvfh l.&?lS&r peppermint flavored susar rrm&lf -rio arri'ind nor. permtnt flavored chew'.na cum that will eld your eppe- tlte and digestion, polish volt feetb and moisten your throat. By th makers of -paas tgjjjjg? After Every Wear OP L)SfSo had devoted the last few years of h's life to fruit ranches and eucalyptus groves in southern California, was stricken with apoplexy several days ago. V Knights Would Aid Veterans. FORT 'WORTH, Texas, Oct. 23. Geeral K. M. Van Zandt, commander in chief of the United Confederal Veterans, today received S400 In a let. ter signed "Knights of the Ku Klux Klan," with the request that it be used in defraying expenses of veter ans at the Chattanooga reunion. S7 HOT CAKES HOT COFFte HOT HM BACON SAUSflOE ft V WWW i HI i ! '' Wt Worth Reading COLD MORNINGS AND HOT CAKES Add a slice of corn fed ham or. crisp bacon or Brookfield sausage and a cup of Bake-Rite Coffee with real cream. Some Breakfast for 25c Bake-Rite Cafeteria Alder Street, Near Gill's "The Home of Homelike Food" Always Your Moneys Worth 63 -70 Cash or Easy. Terms- A Victrola for Hallowe'en Hallowe'en the night of lanterns the night of ghosts and witches is coming! What could be jollier than a gay little Hal lowe'en dancing party, with a Victrola to fur nish the music? If you haven't a Victrola, we have just the size and style to suit your purse. If you have a Victrola, we have just the records for this timely dancing party. Come in and choose your Victrola today, and hear the latest fox-trot records. Victrolas$25to$1500 Convenient payment terms ShennanMay & Ga Sixth and Morrison Strs.t PORTLAND I I OppoMSi PoafosM I I J . KEAXTLS TACOMA kPOKANsl y