Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-08-31
COMP ANlES Plan
FOR BIC FIGHT
Executives Face Situation
in a Belligerent
Spirit
nEEIANcE rs ISSUED
{: DEFIANCE IS ISSUED
Many Trainmen Are Expected to Re-
main at Their Posts Despite The
Strike Orders

! Chicago, Aug. 31-Throughou'
Tho entire country the railroads, great
and small. are gathering their forces
70 onpose the strike set for next Mon
day.
The undercurrent of feeling report
| Id at Washington that the catastrophe
would yet be averted is not reflected
here among railroad men. A sum-.
mary of the situation made by E. T.
Ripley, president of the Atchison, To-
peka and Santa Fe, who was mem
her of the committee which conferred
with President Wilson, as spokesman
for railroad presidents who returned
yesterday from the conferences at
the national capital, intensified the
pessimism felt here.
Mr.. Ripley asserted that the rail-
roads can now see no hope of set
element before Labor Day, and are
making every preparation for even
Qualities.
Practically every important rail
road in the country gave notice OF en-
bargoes, or was preparing to give
them. They effect perishable freight
and live stock, which at present con-
stitute about one-third the freight
'traffic: :r on IN most Western roads, and
passengers. Agents everywhere were
instructed to warn passengers Of
probable delays, and not to accept
any perishable freight which could
not normally be delivered before Ser-
tember 4. In some cases the date was
set for Saturday, September 2, or
Sunday, September 3.
The railroad officials who came back
to Chicago were energetic and bel
ligerent.
Mr.. Ripley's face had fight written
all over it as he worked his broa5
shoulders through the crowd at the
station and the expression translated
itself into words in his subsequent
statements.
He gave three statements. The hrst
statement was issued formally as the
expression of the party which return
ed from Washington, the second was
addressed to employees of the 'oan:a
Fe and warned those who might obey
the strike order that they would lose
all rights of seniority and of benefits
from insurance and pension funds.
The third was Mr.. Ripley's plan for
meeting the strike and an analysis
Of the railroads side Of the contro-
versy.
The three constituted an artillery
blast of defiance to the brotherhoods.
to whose unreasonable arrogance"
he attribueedi the situation.
There was some ;difference of opin-
ion. he said, among the officials when
thew first. arrived al Washington as
to what course to pursue, but they
became absolutely unanimous when
requested to abandon arbitration
They were for it, he said.
On the important subject of what
the roads purpose to do, he said that
attempts would be made to keep at
least one passenger train on each run
and that preference would next be
given perishable freight.
He expressed the .opinion that the
public would he surprised at the NUM-
ber of men who would remain loyal
10 their employers.
In the event of the railroad en-
ployes going out on strike Monday.
1T is declared the entire railroad sys-
tenn entering Washington will not DC
tied up. ~ 5"'s
For some time it is learned the rail
roads have been laying plans "fer
just such an emergency" railroad
official states. This official says that
not all of the engineers or fremen
Will strike, as he had been told by