New Britain herald., 1915-06-21
STRIKE OF FREIGHT
 CLERKS IMMINENT
Decision d May Be Reached Today
 by New Haven Employees

NeW maven, June zl.--Ihe question of a strike of two thousand clerks em- ployed in freight houses of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- road company rests with the com mittee of the Brotherhood of Rail- way Clerks which will meet here later today to take final action. Up till noon no word had been officially passed along the line for strike, al- though many clerks had heard ru- mors that such action had been or dered.
 John J. Forester, grand vicepresi- dent of the brotherhood, who, byfvote of the clerks, had been given full power to act in the negotiations over grievances with General Manager C. L. Bardo of the railroad, has delegated his power to declare a strike to the clerks cc m mittcc. The negotiations had reached the point where Gen. eral Manager Rardo had been given until noon today to reply to a de- ted to arbitration along lines sug- gested by MT. Forester.
 Strike seems Certain.
 If no reply was forthcoming the clerks committee was to meet and decide upon the next step, which, &C., cording to MT. Forester, would be to order a strike.
 The imminence of strike brought to this city representatives of other brotherhoods and several national of ficers, the latest arrival being George H. Sines, national vice-president of the Brotherhood of Trainmen. The committees of the conductors, train men, locomotive engineers and teleg- raphers, with their chairmen arrived over night, with the exception of F. s. Evans, chairman of the engineers. who is in Boston.
 May Delay Order.
 The committees met with the na- tional officers this noon at a local ho- tel to go over the situation. It IS und erstood that before the clerks com mittee takes final action, it will be asked by the joint committee of the other brotherhoods to give it a hear ing. For this reason, it was stated by brotherhood officer, a strike or der by the clerks committee is likely to be delayed.
 No Statement Ready.
 MT. Forester, who attended a meeting of the clerks committee dur lng the morning, said later there was no statement to be issued at this time. He had not been requested by representatives of the other brother hoods to meet them for a discussion of the situation, nor ha6: the clerks committee been asked to receive such committee. He said it was Tact that informally several officers of the other brotherhoods had talked with him, although incidentally, about the grievances. He said that no sugges- tions as to the wisdom or the clerks position had been advanced.
 'sThe clerks grievances are mat ters to be adjusted by the clerks brotherhood = said MT. Forester, land no other brotherhood would presume to tell us what to do any more than we would have any right to make suggestions about taking care .! grievances which other brother hoods have.
 National Officers Present.
 MT, Forester said that he was aware that the other protherhoods Ic1a SStt IiiSAI duJuSe'Ii0iit SOiilHiileoSS to New Haven and that several na- tional officers were either nere or on the way to this city. lie had seen several himself.
 The federal concillarors, Messrs. Gilday and Reeves had not been to the clerks headquarters and he was not aware they were to return, he said. Neither of the federal concilia-