The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-26
Twenty-Five Persons Killed
 Tn Lehigh Valley Wreck
STRIKE SITUATION WEARS A CRISIS
Alleged Union Stands for WalkOut Unless Rec0gni-
 ton Is Given

l Paducah. Ky. August 2o.-Nithln "A hours the Illinois Central railroad will either recognize the new federation of employees Of that road or will be faced
 with walkout of 97 per cent of the union
 employees of the system, according to schedule given out at the headquarters of
 the federation today. Although only Suo are members. the federation claim fully llS,ooo or 14,OoO men will be affected. Pres tdent Red McCreaery and Secretary-Treas- urer w. F. Bowen are busy figuring out the exact percentage of ayes and nsyes on the proposition to strike if the Illinois Cen l. tral officials decline to recognize the fed eration. Up to noon today T775 votes lhad been recorded in favor of such ac- ton Few opposition votes were csst
 Next Sunday night the president and treasurer. who compose the sub-executive committee, will meet other members of the federation executive committee in Chi cago. The whole committee will go over the tabulated vote together, and Monday afternoon will seek an interview with Gen eral Manager Foley of the Illinois Cen tral railroad If that official refuses to grant an interview he will be given eer- tain time, according to the officials Of the federation. in which to reconsider. and if at the end of the allotted time he does not receive the commrnltree the union men will be called out over. the en- tire system with the exception of the engineers operators and trainmen. San Francisco. August 25.-Between 600 and 700 men employed in the Harri- man system shops will vote tonight on the strike question.
 According to Ernest J. Reguin, presi- dent of the Shop Employees Federation of the Hartman line, sentiment is strongly in favor of striking in the event of refusal of recognition.
 Omaha. Neb, August 25.-Julius Kruttschnitt, vice president of the Har- riman railroad system, declared in an interview here today that the matter of strike on the Hartman system was up to the men and that the roads had never refused to confer with their con ferees.
 Memphis August 25.--While the offer of the local committed of business men who rendered their services as conciliators in the controversy between the Illinois Central railroad system and the em- ploves of the road has not been accepted, ss,slrci,ee is given that the. demands of iae lSeH are ppen tp 4 Satun Y ' can be snowa that they ale unjust.
 Dispatches from officials of the em- ploves federation at Paducah brought this information tonight In itself. 1t is explained. the Peducah committee which is canvassing the strike vote, is without power to accept the suggestions of the Memphis committee but the offer
 will be presented to the advisory board at conference to be held in Chicago Monday.
 So far no reply has been received from officials of the road to the dispatch of the local committee which urged that both parties be represented at meet
 ing in Memphis before final action is taken.
 Representatives of tbe road however, have attended the meetings of the com mittee while labor leaders have taken no part.
 Another dispatch received today from II. I. Carrigan, chief Of the clerks union, promises cooperation in an investigation of working conditions of that branch Of employees.
 yicksburg. Miss. August 25.-superin- tendent of Machinery R. W. Bell of the illinois Central railroad spent several hours today in informal conference with employees of the Vieksburg shops. Dir ferences between the road and the men were freely discussed 1t Is stated.
 MT. Bell who during the week has visited Baton Rouge. Jackson and other points had no comment to make as to the situation other than 10 express an orinion that some of the men had been "misled" He left tonight Tor Mem phis.