Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-02
ROADS RESEMBLING
FREIGHT EMBARGO
Convinced Congress Will Pass
Eight Hour-Day Law Before
Date Set for Strike.
MANY OF EMPLOYEES LOYAL
Announce Widespread
Defections From Ranks
of BrotherhoodS.


of BrotherhoodS.
CHICAGO. September I.--Convinced
that Congress will force them to sur
render. presidents of important rail-
roads tonight ordered resembling or
modification OF the freight embargo
established in preparation for gen.
eral railway strike. At the same time,
these railroad executives announced
defect!ons from the ranks of the rail-
way brotherhoods. and declared they
had enough men to operate trains,
strike or no strike. This was denied
by brotherhood officials
Hale Holden, president of the Chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy, spokes-
man for the railroads In the conference
with President Wilson. said the rail
roads are convinced Congress will force
through the eight-ho.r-day law before
the date set for the strike, but that
they are taking nof changes. "lt seems
as though tonight Congress will make
us surrender" he ! id The Burlng-
that there Is little .thance for strike
no". We arc reroking the cmbargoes
so as not 10 Inconvenience the shippers
The strike order must be actually re-
voked before we let Up in our precau-
'ions. We have men enough 10 run
our trains
Notifications of the freight embargo
were announced here by the Erie and
the Rock Island systems Other roads
were expected 10 take similar action
within few hours.
While the railroad executives were
claiming the detection of thousands OF
brotherhood members, officials of the
unions. through Timothy Shea. vice
president of the brotherhood of Fire
men and ENrincmen. said the railways
habitually circulate such stories and
they have no fears their men would
not obey the strike call
ROADS COUNT on LOYALTY
OF ABOUT ~ PER CENT OF MEN
Polls of employees who are members
Of the unions We're practically COM
pleted. and. in general. the roads said
they were able 10 count on the loyalty
of about % per cent OF their trainmen,
even II the strike order is not revoked.
The most startling Of the announce
mcnts came from the general offices OF
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe in
a statement that the four brother
hoods--enEineers. tiremen, conductors
and tra;nmen-would hold meetings to-
nigh, 10 reques, the heads OF their
unions at Washington 10 revoke the
strike order
In addition. suits for injunctions
against calling strikes were filed by
individual brotherhood members in va
rious parts of the country, including
number OF Santa Fe trainmen en-
ployed in Texas
The Minneapolis and 81. Louis Rail
road. at Minneapolis, stated that engi-
neers OF that road would remain at
work 10 man. averrinr that the vote
necessary to make Il strike imperative
had not been taken. President Calvin.
of the Union Pacific. At Omaha. an
nounced that the engineers of that line
would remain in, holding themselves
not To be involved in the movement,
and stated that very large per cent
Of conductors and trainmen would re-
main. The general managers of the
Minneapolis. st. Paul and Saulte ste.
Marie road stated that assurances of
loyalty had been received from 40 per
cent OF the trainmen. and that the
engineers and iremen OF the road did
not take the strike vote because OF
three years contract.
DELEGATION WILL OPPOSE
STRIkE BEFORE CONGRESS
one thousand conductors of the
graphcd PreSidcn; Garretson. of the
brotherhood, that they would not walk
out II ordered - do SO. and a dcleca-
tion Of conductors of the Chicago and
Northwestern was en- route to Wash
nsion to oppose strike before Con-
Gress and the brotherhood heads.
AT Louisville. Ky, iiftcen Louisville
and Nashville conductors obtained an
injunction to restrain calling of
strike on that road, asserting that the
conductors of the road voted against
II. and that n strike would he con-
trary 90 the public policy.
II. r. Byram. vice president Of the
burlington Railroad. stated that ap-
proximately o5 per cent of brotherhood
members employed on that road had
given promises Of remaining at work.
Chicago-Great Western. stated that 20
per cent of his train crews would re-
main.
"a large number would remain"
with the Chicago and Rock Island it
was stated at the headquarters of that
company.
From st. Louis came reports that
roads with headquarters there were
preparing to run trains. These in
cluded the Missouri Kansas and Texas,
the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient
Railroad and the Missouri pacifc-Iron
Mountain system.
From st. Paul ii was announced that
the Great Northern. the Northern Pa
citic. and the Chicago. ST Paul, Mime
apolis and Omaha Railroads with head
quarters there would should the strike
order go into effect neXt-AIonday, run
one passenger train each way daily on
every division of their respective lines.
In addition to passengers. the roads
plan to handle milk. mail and express
on these passenger lines. which will
run on daylight schedules. except In
sNc"rtinental trains.