The Washington times., 1916-01-29
DATA GATHERED BY
529 RAILROADS TO
A STRIKE
Elaborate Preparations Under
Way to Resist Higher Wage
Demands in Spring.

NEW YORK. Jan. 2s.-Railroads OF
the United states will not yield to
the demands for higher wages which,
It is conceded. will be made in the
spring by the chiefs Of the four big
railway labor unions. Officials of the
52s railroads in the country are re-
ported on reliable authority to be de-
termined to stand together In their
re lection Of the demands.
The Eastern managers are con-
vinced that the referendum vote Will
authorize the union leaders to take
full charge Of the situation. and as 1t
now seems certain that proposals for
arbitration will be spurned by the la
Dor heads, both sides are getting
ready for the inevitable.
There Is every indication that the
| railroads are making most thorough
and elaborate preparations. Nothing
would suit the railroads better than
to be done that will bring this about.
On the other hand. the railway
workers are steadfastly set against
arbitration Their leader leadert aotr,ve have
constantly with this knowledge In
possession of the railroad managers,
everything pointed yesterday TO grave
developments.
Roads Begin Preparedness.
How Thoroughly the railroads sre set
| ting about their campaign Of prepared
mes is made all the more significant by
| the fact that this Is the first time any
notice has been paid by them to pre-
dicted demands Of labor organizations.
| This Is what the railroads are doing:
| A statistical bureau is being organized
to supply the Interstate Commerce
l L. q
such as revenues, wages: hours OF serv-
ice. conditions of service. and over
| time payments. 49,
| All of this material VIII be mos.
valua Bile should the dispute be submitted
| to arbitration. The railroads are pro-
Gee ding on the theory that their work
ers will accept arbitration.
| An extensive advertising campaien .
70 be waCed IN the newspapers ana
magazines OF the country IN an en-.
deavor 20 arouse sentiment that VIII
| force arbitration. -,
| In this advertising campaign 1t will
lie s.. n in COM Dc'ng words as1 "tn-
1 stiSs the great calamity that VIII he
fan city Ii 20 ?'"w "orH u t;e rn J.
70. - hive to stop running Trans IN
cent =. a gene. IL strike.
| stat stics will be con r,oa to ref
tie ,tat.msnts C the workers that th'y
are not receiving adcruste wages.
Details Are Closely Guarded.
| AS soon as the demands of the work
ers are made the railroads will present
their side in tabular statistical form.
showing former increases in wages and
general benefits the workers have en-
joyed year after year. or as often as
they have asked for better hours or
more wage.
These details arc being guarded close
lily at the present time and will be
launched after the vote has been count
ed in Chicago about March l. After the
| demands are presented ne railroads
will have thirty days II which TO re-
ply. During the period Of Considera-
ton" the publicity campaign will be let
Managers of the hfty-two Eastern
roads have employed Frank Fayant al
their publicity director. Offices have
been opened in the Grand Central Ter
minal.
Operating officials OF the railroads.
| il is said will make no attempt to
run trains If n strike is called. y The
| present plan of the chiefs of the four
big railway Observation-Disclosures.
! hremen, conductors, and trainmen--
| is to disregard any suggestion OF ar
bitration and cau strike the mo-
ment the railroads refuse their de-
! manJs. 1t is not believed any notice
of strike will be given to the rail-
! roads.
The railroads have not carried out
previous arbitration awards. a rail
fight them"
The plight New York oity would b.
in should trains stop running was
forecast Yesterday. A railroad .efh-
inc In one week. The milk supply
would be exhausted in one day and
| the supply of perishable stuff would
be cut off completely. Everything
| consumption. 1t was pointed out, has
to be brought into the city in daily
| quantities.
Railroad officials also are keeping
anthracite and bituminous coal re-
! gionS.
Crcdonce has been given to the 80
port that the miners labor leaders arc
union heads for concerted action in
the spring. A joint strike of hard and
soft coal Niners would pHralyze Va
rious industries, 1t was said.
Effect Still Remembered.
The last big strike of anthracite and
bitumnous miners was in 1897. and the
effect Of that strike has not been for
gotten. The anthracite strike in the
winter OF l903-19o4 sent up coal to So
What the effect will be of com
bined strike of railroad employees and
| anthracite and pituminous coal miners
cannot be estimated, ra!lroaC. men as
sert.
Managers of the Eastern railroads
have discontinued their sessions in tbs
city. It is not known when they VII
confer again. Following TIL. report that
| q national committee of railway man
ayers will be formed soon, with Elisha
Lee. superintendent of the Philadelphi1, 1,
Baltimore, and Washington I all road, al
hs prerdeGtn of "GMs tSe sosntrys ra
roads also will form an associat'oiI'
Details of these plans are being guard