New-York tribune., 1909-12-06
STRIKERS READY
TOTEST STRENGTH
NAY CALL MEN OUT
EAST AND VEST.
S17tchmen Are SAID to Hare
Already Filed Their
Demands.

Chicago. Dec. 5-The svftchmen's
Union OF North America. whose men are
on strike in the Northwest. is preparing.
according TO a report here tonight. TO
make desperate test OF it's strength
against the railroads.
Demands for increased wages. IL IS De-
clared. have been fled by their union II,
St Louis. Kansas City. Cincinnati,
Cleveland. Buffalo and minor points BE-
tween Chicago and St. Paul In Chicago.
TOO. the switchmen who belong to tho
North American union are said 20 be
planning TO leave their posts.
Though local officials denied thar
strike in Chicago was imminent. IL So
feared that Chicago will be drawn int,
the conflict
Unions affiliated with the Chicago
Federation of Labor to-day indorsed the
stand taken by the striking railroad
switchmen in the Northwest and pledged
the strikers moral and financial support
Attacks were made in the federation
meeting on the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainnen for its refusal 10 support tbs
strike
That Chicago switchmen expect To be
drawn into the conflict was made plain
by j. B. Connors. vice-president OF the
Switchmen's Union Of North America.
who declared that IL a strike IS ordered
in Chicago the switchmen belonging 20
the Brotherhood OF Railway Trainnnsn
will go out with the switchmsn who ara
members OF the switchmen's union
In his address Connors denied the re-
cent statement Of President ". G. Les
Of the Brotherhood OF Railway Train
men that members OF the Switchmens
Union OF North America had taken the
places OF brotherhood men on strike in
Texas last summer.
President Lee tonight said: ''I will
prove by court records that my state
the switchmen's union deliberately falsi-
fed the date on contract and took the
places Of our men Immediately after We
called a strike"
The General Managers Association Of
the railroads affected by the switchmsn's
strike issued the following statement to-
night after a prolonged conferences.
Late reports indicate that progress in
moving business to-day on all lines has
been highly satisfactory. A large num-
Der of switchmen in excess OF the re-
duirements OF all lines have made appli-
cations for positions. which have beer
declined. first. because we have all the
men needed. and. second. because the
striking switchmen are fast returning
TO their former positions and IL is the
intention Of the railroads TO allow them
TO return where vacancies exist. n
should be understood. however. that the
TO make room for the men who obeyed
the strike order.
That the railroads hold no i'll feeling
the facr that the men are being taken
back where vacancies exist The strik-
ers have their side; the railroads have
theirs. After five conferences an agree
ment could not be reached Arbitration
was agreed 10 by both sides. which the
switchmen's leaders repudiated on the
eve of arbitration. a situation practically
without precedent.
We have orders from the lines OF the
Northwest TO discontinue employment OF
men, and the railroads view the situa-
tion as substantially normal The shops
of the Great Northern will again b.
opened the first of the week reinstatinx
about two thousand men temporarily
laid of.