Evening journal., 1913-01-31
RAILROAD
STRIKE IS
IMMINENT
Nine TenthS Of $4,000 Fire
men in East Vote to
Strike
MAY EFFECT ENGINEERS;
LOCAL LINES EFFECTED

Railroad officials admit that a big
strike of locomotive fremen seeming
ly is inevitable, and that the fremen
also will attempt to draw into the
fight the engineers. notwithstanding
the engineers obtained a wage in
crease under the arbitration award
last July. The Pennsylvania rail-
road including the Maryland and the
Delaware division, and the Philadel-
phia and Reading lines, which also
tap Wilmington. will be affected by
the strike if it be not averted
The voting by the hremen on the
strike question viii end today, and the
railroad officials admot that ninety per
cent OF The 10000 hremen will vote
I'm favor of a strike If the engi-
neers be dragged into it the total num-
her Of strikers Will be between Co..
GOO and 10000. On the local rail-
roads the understanding is that a
large majority of the firemen have
voted to strike, if necessary, to win
their demands
The railroads concede the result
will show ninety per cent. Of the 30
O00 fremen in favor Of a sJrike They
add that this vote, possibly, will tie
MP every eastern railroad. and there
by subject more than half Of the peO-
pie of the United States to great suf-
fering. They say the vote was taken
in the face Of the railroads offer TO
submit all matters in controversy to
an unbiased arbitration commission OF
FIVE. seven. or nine men.
AS an indication that the firemen
win endeavor 10 gain the support OF
public opinion for strike. the rail-
road managers call attention to the
following paragraph from the In
structions For Taking Strike Ballot
issued by the Firemen's Union:
General Chairmen should make ar
rangements that they believe proper
whereby great publicity can be given
10 all matters in connection with this
movement whenever il becomes evil
dent that no settlement can be reach
ed This publicity should consist of
the distribution of circulars to be fur
nished each lodge by the Eastern
Committee. which circulars win be
delivered among the business men OF
the cities. and IN addition thefeto ar
rangements should be made to have
matters published in all home news
papers.
That a strike seriously menaces The
country is shown in the bulletin is
sued to the iremen by the committee
II says:
Under no circumstances should
any person voting be told that there
is no danger of strike. for II is eX-
pected that every man viii vote just
as he intends TO act If he does not
expect to leave the service of the
company. If necessary, he should not
deceive the officers of this Brother
hood by voting yes
The railroad managers say they
have learned with considerable sur
prise that the firemen are also poll
ing the engineers who belong to their
Brotherhood. The instructions for
taking the strike ballot specifically
point out that general ~chairmen shall
instruct local chairmen to request
all members of the brotherhood on
engine service (including firemen
engineers, and hostlers) TO vote yes
or no These same engineers have
had their wages increased by the ar
bitration award recently announced
and intended to coRtinue until June I
Before the strike vote is counted
and the firemen have gone too far, tho
railroads say they wish again TO re-
peat their offer to lay their differ
Continued on Second Page.