The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-27
Union Officials Expect Gen. eraI Strike Order at
 Any Time
NEXT MOVE IS UP TO
 ROAD OFFICIALS
It Is Not Thought That the Strike Will Affect Northern Branch of the Road-Conges-
 ton Apparent

| New Orleans, September 26.--That general strike of the federated em- rloyes of the Illinois Central and Yazoo l and Mississippi Valley railroad system was imminent; that the arrival of general strike order at any time now would not be surprise, the state nent made here this afternoon to the Associated Press by W. E. Bowen. chairman of both the local and system protective committee. Mir. Bowen is
 directing the strike of the clerks who
 walked from their desks yesterday in the local freight offices .and sheds of the company.
 | He said that it was with the utmost difficulty that the shopmen in this city, Harahan and McComb City, Miss. were kept at their works, that the in- clination to strike was "in the air and 1 that he would not even be surprised to hear that many unions and crafts had struck without waiting for orders from superior officers.
 | When asked what official would is sue the general strike order, if any,
 he replied that he did not even know | himself as the situation was so com plex with so many unions involved | that he was not sure who would take
 the responsibility. He was sure of one | thing he said, general strike orders, if
 any, would come from higher up.'' l No Order Yet l When asked specifically if any gen. eral strike order had been issued, he
 replied tbat he knew of none, and he
 thought he would be advised as soon
 as any other official interested As to 1 tue number of men involved, he es- tmated that about 1000 workmen at
 McComb City. division shop headauar- ters, and Harahan, and about 500
 at New orleans, including the clerks,
 would be affected.
 \ sof the sso union clerks here. all but ,I louf left their desks. In their places, fi about 70 strike Breakers have been ern- ployed up to Tuesday afternoon by
 Frieght Agent Cousins. who had had severas applications for positions dur ing the afternoon. The railroad off, cials are confident of being able to re-
 sume normal working conditions to- morrow or next day.
 l No outbound freight was received to-
 day, but inbound and through ship
 ments in car lots were not delayed. | The scene about the freight office and
 sheds of the Illinois Central was one of
 a holiday. The iron doors of the ware
 house were closed and no trucks wait- ed to be loaded or unloaded. | MT. Bowen said today that no con-
 ference had been arranged with the | railroad officials as the next move was up to them." We gave notice at
 Memphis last Friday" said he, and
 the officials cannot say that they were
 not duly notified"
 ] It is said that the railroad refused
 to recognize the federation because it would elevate car washers and com mon laborers to a union basis. MT. | Brown denies this with the statement | that only skilled worlSmen, clerks, tin and sheet iron metal workers, hot wa l ter pipefitters and such craftsmen were incorporated in the federation. Appears to Be Long Fight l Both sides appear to have settled | down for long struggle, lines are 1 tightly drawn and every movement is 1 watched closely by the opposition l Extra police are stationed near the l freight office and the headquarters of l the strikers just across the street On
 the building occupied by the strikers 1 is large painted sign with the words: Headquarters striking railway l clerks Scabs opposite"
 | The first evidence of violence result l ing from the strike was reported today when H. F.. Haines, non-union clerk. | was set upon by crowd of men among | whom were several strikers, Haines
 sustaining black eye and a. bloody | nose. The fight took place near Illinois ! shed No. 5. where pickets had been
 stationed. Haines was importuned to quit work. The strikers deny they struck Haines. but only attempted to reason with him."
 l Attorneys for the Illinois Central se-
 cured from federal Judge Rufus F.. Eos ter tonight temporary order restraining
 the members of the clerks organiza-
 tior and it's officers from placing pickets l in any way interfering with the com- pany's business.
 l This action followed the posting of
 pckets and the holding up of two pros pective employees by strike sympathizers l today.
 l The restraining order will be heard on 1 its merits Friday morning. The brief
 states that the company entered into an l agreement with the clerks in December. I 1909. which provided 90 days notice in case abrogation of contract was desired. The company complains that this notice was not given when the clerks walked out yesterday.
 1 The injunction is comprehensive in scope prohibiting members of the clerks organization from importuning prospec-
 tive present employees, either within | their homes or elsewhere within the ju- | risdiction of the court. The two men
 beaten up today were H. E. Haines and Joseph Saccho.
 1 Two meetings of shopmen. one in AL | giers and one in this city. were held | tonight. the carmen's unions deciding to | leave the matter of calling them out up to the national officers in Kansas City. | Memphis. September 26-Equally opti- mistic statements were issued tonight | by both parties to the controversy after | the first day of strike of Illinois Central l clerks and shop employees here. Railroad | officials assert that they have the situa- tior well in hand; that but little diff culty is being experienced fin replacing | the striking clerks, and that normal con l ditions as to the movement of freight | are fast being restored at all points. On
 the other hand from strike headquarters, :.
 comes ths 'ste, epi. .-si@ssF.ss- III ES