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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1921)
2. THE 3I0RNINO CSEGONIAN, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 26, 1921 RAIL LABOR EXPECTS BIG LEGAL BATTLE Mr. Hines Declines to Repre sent Brotherhoods. BOARD MEETING TODAY Ex-Director-General of Roads De clares He Is Xot la Position to Act for Unions. CLEVELAND. O., Oct . (By the Associated Press.) That the "big; five" railroad transportation organl zatlon chiefs are expecting; a legal battle when they appear before the railroad labor board tomorrow in Chicago was indicated today when they sought to retain Walker D Bines, ex-dlrector-general of rail roads, to handle any legal phases. Mr, Hines told the brotherhood executives that he "was not in a position" to represent them and returned to New York. Unless the labor board has changed its attitude concerning the necessity of. general chairmen of the five labor organisations appearing at, the Chi cago meeting. It Is anticipated that one of the first legal squabbles to be decided will be on the action of W. 8. Stone, president of the Brother hood of Locomotive Engineers, In no tifying his general chairmen they seed not answer the board's citation. Only Severn Are to Attend. Mr. Stone announced tonight that only himself and six grand officers, In whom the authority of the or ganization Is vested, will attend the conference. Referring to conflicting reports In telegrams exchanged between Chair man R. M. Barton of the railroad labor board and President Stone re garding the necessity of general chairmen of the brotherhoods being requested to attend the Chicago hear ings. Mr. Stone said: "My chairmen are scattered all over the country, and It would be im possible for me to get them to Chicago In time for the opening of the hear ings." When asked how long he and his grand officers expected to remain in Chicago, Mr. Stone replied that he could not answer. Other Chiefs to Center. Other brotherhood chiefs would not indicate whether their general chair men would be present, except W. G. Lee. president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, who has ordered the approximately 200 general chalr men and grand officers of his organ ization to be present and with whom he will confer in Chicago tomorrow. It is understood that the other chiefs and their officers will confer separately preliminary to the meeting. In a statement today, W. S. Carter, president of the Brotherhood of Loco motive Firemen and Englnemen, said "the men are determined to peacefully leave the service of the railroads until a satisfactory adjustment has been reached." strike Declared Target. Mr. Carter also stated that "If press reports are to be taken at their face the whole power of the administra tion is going to be used to defeat the, strike of the employes," adding: "Not one word comes through the press that any Influence Is being used on the railroad corporations." Mr. Carter's statement, in part, fol lows: "A source of Irritation which has resulted in an upheaval among rail road employes Is the general attitude of the railroads and of 'everybody else.' Including the administration, that upon labor must rest the entire burden of getting back to 'normalcy." "The 'open shop' propaganda of last year made it evident to railroad employes that there was a conspiracy on the part of 'big business' to de stroy labor unions, if it were possible to achiev . that purpose. Propaganda I'se AlleKed. "Immediately upon return of the railroads to private control leading railroad presidents and others hired for the purpose began a nation-wide propaganda to convince the public that the high rates were caused by high wages. "The oppos'tion of railroad em ployes to the enactment of the Cum-mins-Esch law was based upon two principles: "1. One of the results of the trans portation act was to increase the sup posed valuation of the railroads from less than $'3,000,000,000 to almost $19,000,000,000. and upon this Inflated value the Interstate commerce com mlHsion was required to fix a freight and a passenger rate that presum ably would give to railroad owners a return for their Investments of be tween 6H and 6 per cent. Any man connected wiih the railroad business should know that such an Increase in capital charges could not be incurred without disaster, either to the corpo rations or to the employes. They knew that If these railroads upon this great Inflation of capital investment were to earn Hi or I per cent, rail way employes must suffer In the end. Hoard Make-up Discussed. "2. Title III of the act creates a railroad labor board made up of three 'factions': the railway employes are represented, the railway corporations are represented and the 'public' Is represented thereon. If there are three representatives of ths railroad corpo ration and three 'representatives of the public.' then all that would be necessary to destroy the standard of living of railroad employes would be to create a public opinion so that the 'representatives of the public' would unite with the representatives of the railroad corporations and thereby es tablish a two-thirds majority against labor on the labor board. "A vast number of railroads, not content with the wage reduction, brought about by decision No. 147 of the labor board, have demanded re--vlslon of wage agreements that would destroy rules in effect for many years. Nothing has alarmed the men to a greater extent than this seeming determination to abrogate . rule, until announcement is now itade that another wage reduction will be insisted upon. ' Infractions, Are Reviewed. "At the meeting of all of the gen eral chairmen in Chicago in July In structions were Issued to the chief executives of the organizations to en deavor to get some understanding with the proper representatives of the railroad corporations so that peace could again be restored. Not withstanding efforts extending over days, the only reply obtainable from the acrredlted representatives of the railroad corporations was that they would not agree to leave the rules of employment intact and would not agree not to demand further wage reductions This situation was set forth In the strike ballot submitted tc membership. "When the ballots were counted and it was learned that an over whelming majority of the railroad employea had voted in favor of a strike the general committee, re luctant to resort to a strike, adopted a resolution Instructing the chief executives again to get into com munication with the proper repre sentatives of the railroads In the hope that there might be some sat isfactory adjustment of all these matters In controversy. This was done, and at a meeting of the presi dents of the railroad corporations in Chicago on October 14 a committee was appointed to meet the chief executives of the organizations, at which meeting the chief executives used every effort to persuade the railroad presidents to adopt some conciliatory attitude. In reply the chief executives were told that the railroad presidents had that after noon passed a resolution that they would proceed Immediately to secure another wage reduction. This was reported to the committees of general chairmen, when they set the date for the strike and asked for approval of the chief executives, which approval was given. "If press reports are to be taken at their face value the whole power of the administration Is going to be used to defeat the strike of the em ployes. Xot one word comes through the press that any influence is being URed upon the railroad corporations.' What is to be done between now and October 30, no one knows. There seems to be no disposition on the RAILROADS REJECT Delay in Asking for New Re duction Is Refused. ROAD CHIEFS STAND PAT Lines Declare That They Are Pow erless to Take Any Other Position" Than Announced. (Continue 1 From First Page.) had repeatedly urged a quick deci sion on the rules and working condi tions questions, now before the TUESDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS IX RAILWAY STRIKE SITUATION. Chicago Labor board auggests to roads that they temporarily postpone seeking further wage cuts because the docket is so full that a decision could not be rendered before July. 1922, but roads declare themselves "powerless to take any other position" than their present one. Board announces rules and working conditions will be settled before any wage reduction petitions are considered Rail executives meet to discuss strike situation and labor board hearing, which begins today. Washington Attorney-General Daugherty and district attorneys from New York. Cleveland, Buffalo. Indianapolis and Chicago com plete plans for transportation of "people, food and fuel" in the event of a strike. Cleveland Warren S Stone, head of the engineers, announces he has instructed his chairmen they need not attend tomorrow's labor board hearing at Chicago, saying the board has misunderstood Its authority and will not want them when the situation is explained. W. S. Carter, president of the firemen and englnemen. In a state ment, declared presa reports Indicate "the whole power of the administration is to be used to defeat the strike" and that "there seems to be no disposition on tbe part of anyone to bring about an equitable adustment." "Big five" union chiefs asked Walter D. Hines, former director general of railroads, to act as their counsel in dealing with labor board, but he declines. Cincinnati Railway clerks will give "passive assistance" to proposed walkout by refusing to do other han their own work. Houston International Great Northern strike situation un changed, full passenger and part freight service being operated under armed guards, although strikers maintain a bands-off policy. . part of anyone to bring about an equitable' adjustment and this-rs where the matter stands." STATION EMPLOYES STAY IX Notice Sent Out From National Headquarters at Cleveland. CINCINNATI, Oct. 25. Notice was sent from the national headquarters hers today of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks. Freight Handlers, Kxpress and Station Employes, numbering more than 200.- 000 members, that the organization Is not In sympathy with the proposed railway strike, and members were ordered not to obey the order to cease work. The official letter sent members of the brotherhood by President Fitz gerald directed them "not to strike with the transportation service or ganizations, but to continue to per form their regular duties." The letter states that the "four transportation organizations would not enter into any direct co-opera tion with the Brotherhood of Clerks regarding the threatened strike," and would not be bound to remain on strike after they had received a set tlement acceptable to them, even though those who assisted them In making their strike successful had received no settlement and were stili on strike." It added that final action by the brotherhood would be determined after the railroad labor board renders Its decision. ROAD WORK CONTRACTED (Continued From First Page.) the Old Oregon trail through that county In the coming years. Inci dentally the commission reminded the county of financial agreements which the commission expects tbe county to fulfill. A survey was ordered from the mouth of Bear creek, in Crook county. to a connection with the Central Oregon highway somewhere near Mil- llcan. This road is to be built In ex change for the road from the mouth of Bear creek to Paulina. Overtures were made to the com mission by Lincoln county represen tatives regarding the rocking or graveling of sections of the Newport McMInnvllle highway. Owing to the condition of the exchequer the com mission explained that no reply can be made Tor a few days. The high price for bonds and the low price for contracts, the commission intimated, will help stretch ths resources of the state. Crater lake highway and a number of other important matters are sched uled for attention by the commission at today's session. The commission will not be able to dispose of pending business before Thursday night, at least. Contracts were awarded as follows: Yamhill county, bridge on the Amlty- McMinnville road, Monson, Treweller Co., 000.50. Morrow county, lxington-neppner sec tion of Oreson-Washlnglon highway, 13.7 miles grading, Moore Anderson, $58.74Q Linn county, Murder creea graue sepa ration, Pacific highway, L. O. Harrow. Ill.i'KS. Douglas county, Roseburg-Wllbur sec tion of Pacific highway. 8 miles concrete paving. S. A. M user I of Taeoma. 144.8115 Malheur county, Welser-Baker line sec tion. Old Oregon trail, 13.1 miles grading. Hauser Construction Co., 1100, 4:14.50. Lane, county. Cottage Grove section. Pa cific highway, 1.6 miles paving, combina tion typo, Uuy F. ryle, SS7.418, LOOP ROAD PROSPECTS GOOD Hood River County Officials Con- " fldcrit of Early Construction. HOOD RIVER. Or., Oct. 26. (Spe cial.) County officials express con fidence that the state highway com mission at its November meeting will take formal steps toward letting contracts for grading the entire val ley trunk line of the Mount Hood loop highway in this county. Five miles now is being constructed over Booth hill. Officials have been urg ing such action by the highway de partment for several weeks and es glneers of the office have recom mended that contracts be let. Mem bers of the county board of commis sioners will go to Portland tomorrow to press the case. The county recently sold at a pre mium 1150.000 of the $350,000 bond issue voted last June for financing the county's half of the road. In case a contract for the other work, approximately IS miles. Is awarded at once, a sufficient portion of the bonds to meet the expense will be sold at once by the county. Because of the decrease In cost of construc tion, however. It is expected that the county will be able to save in the neighborhood of $75,000 of the bonds. board, and that it had determined several weeks ago to settle this mat ter first. 130O Cases Still Cswettled. Of tbe 2u00 cases submitted to tbe board, 1300 still are unsettled, the statement said, pointing out that proper co-operation between the car riers and the unions would have pre vented many coming to ths board. The board's statement, members said, was Issued tonight, the eve of the strike hearing to which both the unions and carriers have been sum moned for questioning to determine if the transportation act is being vi olated by the unions in their strike plans, In the hope that it would re sult In representatives of one side or the other voluntarily offering some plan to clear up the crisis. The board has no definite plan, it was said, and will try in the hearing merely to bring out all the facts. A statement Issued by the execu tives' committee declared that the carriers were powerless to take any other position than that of seeking further wage cuts. Decision Declared Target. "Rallroaa executives are' not aware of any present dispute betweei. them and their employes," said the state ment. "The strike vote was taken solely against a decision of the labor board reducing wages by 12 per cent last July. "The railroads have determined to seek to reduce rates, and as a means to that end to further reduce wages. But the carriers have expressly de cided to proceed in accordance with the law. . . . "The railroads wish It expressly understood that they would deprecate a strike, but that their first obli gation is to the public to ren der adequate service at reasonable rates. . . . "The Issue Is clear. If present wages are continued, rates cannot be lowered. If rates are to be reduced present wages cannot be paid. The railroads are powerless to take any other position." The board's statement to the car riers follows in part: "One of the principal causes of this (strike) trouble lies in the fact that j said carriers have notified certain I executives of said organizations (con- I ductors, engineers, firemen, trainmen, j switchmen and telegraphers) that It ia me purpose or ine carriers to apply to the railroad labor board for a further reduction In wages, additional to that ordered July 1, 1921. "The proper consideration of the conditions surrounding matters now pending before the board should re-, move any Immediate occasion for strife between the carriers and said organizations of employes growing out of a possible reduction of wages by the labor board. "Since the organization of the board a little more than 18 months ago. more than 2000 cases Involving disputes between the carriers and employes have been filed with ths board. More than TOO have been dis posed of . . . The board baa been deluged with minor disputes which would not have been sent here bad the carriers and their employes co operated in the establishment of ad justment boards, as provided in the transportation act. "Three questions of paramount Im portance have been before the board, the wage increase of 1920, the wage reduction of 1921, and the adoption of new rules and working conditions. "The two wage controversies were disposed of . . . The board has been Justly urged by the carriers to complete - its consideration of the rules and hand down its decision. . . Rale Decision Pat F"irst. "It is the Judgment of the board that as a matter of procedure' it would be unwise, and as a matter of policy, unjust, to discontinue consid eration of rules and working condi tions and enter into a prolonged hear ing of an application to reduce wages at this time. ... . "It is not within the province of the board to shut the door in the face of either carriers or employes, but ... it is within the discretion of the board to fix the oraer in which it will take up the numerous mat ters submitted to it. "It will thus become apparent that the employes, who are protesting against a further wage cut, are cross ing orioges long before they can pos sibly get to them and that carriers cannot hasten a wage reduction hv applying for it at tula time. . . . Strike Effects Denied. "The board : V . is not affected by the threat of a- strike ... It adopted several weeks ago a policy of making everything secondary to consideration of rules and working Conditions, but . . . even with the greatest diligence., it will reoulre considerable time to complete the de cision oi rules. In view of the above considera tions it is the purpose of the board that the submission of carriers and employes on rules and working con ditions shall be completely disposed of as to any particular class of em ployes before a hearing is had on any question of wages affectiner said class of employes in any carrier cov- erea Dy decision No. 147 (165 class A. railroads)." STRIKE ACTION' IS DENOUNCED San Francisco Industrial Associa tion Adopts Resolutions. SAX FRANCISCO. Oct. 25 (Sdb- clal.) The directors of the San Fran cisco Industrial association, denounc ing as a challenge to the power of tne government of the United States the attempt to call a nation-wide railroad strike and demanding that there be no temporizing with those defying the mandate of the labor board, today adopted resolutions call ing upon Governor Stephens and Mayor Rolph to use all the state troops and police at their disposal to keep the roads open and the trains running. Any strike, the resolution declared. will cause irreparable bardshio and suffering to the people and will be a direct repudiation and disobedience of a solemn decision of a United States tribunal "The power of the government will be challenged by such a strike," read the resolution. The association denounced the strike call and demanded that there be "no temporizing with those defy- ng the mandate of the labor board," and that "fundamental principles shall not be sacrificed to-expediency Dy any attempt to compromise the issue presented by the strike." Copies of the resolution have been sent to President Harding, the labor board and the Interstate commerce commission and will be presented to Governor Stephens and Mayor Rolph. Phone us for prices on your winter coal. Diamond Coal Co., Bdwy. 3037. Adv. We extend to you a special ' ' invitation to visit our Areola ex hibit and general re pair parts and supplies display. THE M.L. KLINE CO. Wholesalers "Faultless" Plumbing and Heating: Supplies. 80-82-84-86 Front St. Marshall 910. r WEEK DAYS DANCING Jerry Reed's Orchestra 12 to 1:30. C to 7:30. 9:30 to 12:30 American and Chinese Dishes Service Supreme 11 A. M. to 2 A. M. Try, Osir Lunrk or Dinner Week Days 11 A. M. to 8 P. M. Prices 30c. 85c, 40c to 75c Includes Soup, Vegetable ana leverage Special Sunday thicken Dinner 75e 11 A. M. to 9 P. M. Refreshing Fountain Drinks Oriental Cafe Wanh Inert on and Broadway I put aim Price Goes Up 9 Oct. 22 Central Plumbing & Heating Co. Let Us Make Your Areola Estimates 352 '2 Glisan St, Across From Postoffice Phone Bdwy. 4994 : AN ARCOLA OUTFIT is on display In our store today and every day. Drop in during ARCOLA WEEK and see it. Acme Plumbing & Heating Co. 068 Ullaun Street at Twenty . First Phone Bdwy. 4900. Areola Specialists Central Plumbing & Supply Co. 3SUV4 .lin Street Across from Postoffice. Phone Broadway 494 SEE ARCOLA TODAY THE wonderful new heating system for small homes, stores, offices, etc.. that pavs for Itself In the fuel It saves. C. J. KELLY 1259 Belmont Tabor 4802 T. J. Rowe 111 Grand East 1513 STURGES & STURGES Broadway 224. 443 Washington We Sell and Install Areola Heating Systems "EVERYONE KNOWS" STARK-DAVIS CO. Wholesale and Retail Plumbing. Heating and Electrical Supplies 188 Fourth Street DDI EXPECTED TO ACT OI STRIKE Course to Be Announced When Time Arrives. U. S. ATTORNEYS MEET Daugherty Declares President Will Act Department of Justice Is Ready for Walkout. WASHINGTON, D. C, Oct. 25. An nouncement of the course to be fol lowed by the government in the event of a railroad strike may be expected from President Harding, it was In dicated today by Attorney-General Daugherty. The president, he said, would no' doubt "say what he had to say when the time came." Those responsible for the situation would have to take the consequenses, he added. While maintaining his disbelief that a general strike would materialise, Mr. Daugherty declared the justice department was prepared to act "Ju diciously within the law" to prevent a tie-up of the transportation facili ties. Plana Not Discussed. He did not discuss specifically the department plans, explaining that the government might use one method in one section, adopt another course in another and use all of its legal weap ons In a third. qj? Discussing the country's attitude toward a possible strike, he declared , it his opinion that "the American peo- j pie have no patience with this sltua- j tion." I Conferences with the district attor- I neys from New York. Chicago, Cleve land, Buffalo and Indianapolis were completed today. Mr. Daugherty said, adding that they had a full knowl edge of the department's prepara tions. Western Attorneys to Meet. Six or seven district attorneys In western districts are to meet within the next few days In a western city to discuss the plans, he announced. Mean-while. the attorney-general declared. telegraphic Instructions were being prepared for the district attorneys Informing them how they should proceed. An Investigation, he added, had made clear that, "even If the strike should take place, there Is no danger that any part of the country will suffer any serious hardships from lack of food or fuel for a poriod of at least two weeks after a general tie-up." An abundance of food supplies, ex cept fresh meats, was reported, but the department's agents declared pub lic officials were warning against the hoarding of foodstuffs and fuel to prevent a shortage. The fuel supply was believed to be normal, except in the northwest, and lighting plants and other public utili ties were found to have sufficient supplies for from two to six weeks. Coal Prices Will Advance November 1 Coal prices will advance November 1st. riTie special summer prices on Utah and Wyoming coals, which we announced on August 1 st, will advance $ 1 per ton No vember 1 st. In the meantime we will accept orders until November '1st at our present prices, which are as follows: Diamond Coal Briquets $14 Delivered in Bin King Utah Screened Lump (delivered in bin) $15 King Utah Screened Nut (delivered in bin) $14 Rock Springs Screened Lump (delivered in bin) $15 Rock Springs Screened Nut (delivered in bin) $14 Newcastle Domestic Lump (delivered in bin) $12 Australian Lump (delivered in bin) $15 (Usual extra cartage charge for deliveries to Heights and Suburbs ) Apartment and Hotel Owners, let us quote you on best steam coals. Pacific Coast Coal Co. Nearly 30 Years in Portland Bunkers, Front and Raleigh. Bdwy. 237, Bdwy. 4045 Tuf a flower bidm a tow or or m hot-mir ngittor Wmtch it mithmt ancf droop. 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' Handsome as a fine piece of fur niture and costing surprisingly lit tle, it stands in the living-room, dining-room or kitchen, flooding the room with warmth. ' American Radiators connected with it, carry its warmth to every other room ; while the kitchen tank, ' also connected, provides an abun dance of hot ' water for washing and bathing. And we guarantee that if your home is now heated by 6toves or a hot-air furnace, ARCOLA will pay for itself in the fuel it will save. It burns any kind of fuel. For the sake of your babies' health for the sake of your bank account Engineer and sccArcola today.- The red and yellow card at 'the right is the sign of a Heating or Sanitary Engineer (you used to call him Steamfitter or Plumber) who can show you ARCOLA. Look for it in his window. It will pay you to consult him twice a year as you do your Doctor or Dentist. To have him examine and report oo your heating and plumbing costs little. It may save you a very great deal. 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STRENGTH AND EHDURAHCE AT A MOTHER'S MEETING the wife of a noted New York divine said to her Unteners. "Watch care fully your daughter's physical devel- r.nmnf Mnlhora Mhnulft ksan t holr daughters well Informed as to matters pertain in a; to neaun, ana inouia aea that nature ts analsted, If necessary, to perform its offices." Irregularities and pain are warning symptoms oi some trouble, and mothers may depend upon Lydla E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound to correct them, and restore the yatem to healthy, normal condition. Adv. h