The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-09-02
CONGRESS FORCES .
THEM TO SURRENDER
In Statements Presidents An
nounce OBJECTIONS From
Ranks Of The Men

CHICAGO, Sept. 1-Convinced that
Congress will force them to surrender
Presidents Of important western rail-
roads tonight ordered resembling or
modification of the freight embargo
established in preparation for a gen.
eral railway strike. At the same time
the railroad executives announced de-
| fections 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 Burl-
iugton, spokesman for the railroads
IN the conferences with President
Wilson, said the railroads are con-
vinced Congress will force through
the eight hour day law before the date
taking no chances.
1T seems tonight, that Congress
will make US surrender" Mr.. Holden
said, explaining an order by his
freight department, revoking the en-
barge. THE Burlington and other
roads have felt today, that there is
little chance for a strike now. We
are revoking our embargo so as not to
inconvenience the shippers at all. But
we are going ahead with our plans to
operate trains In event OF a strike.
The strike order must be actually re-
voked before we let up In our precau.
tons. We have men enough to run
our trains"
Notifications OF the freight embar.
20 were announced here by the Erie
and the Rock Island systems. Other
roads were expected to take similar
action within a few hours.
While the executives were claiming
the detection of thousands OF broth
crhood members. officials Of the
unions, through Timothy Shea. vice
president OF the Brotherhood of Fire
men and Enginemen, said the rail
ways habitually circulate such stories
and they have no fears their men
would not obey the strike call.
Many VIII Not Strike.
Polls of employees who are members
Of the unions were practically com:
pleted, and in general the roads said
they would be able to count on the
loyalty Of about Is per cent. OF their
trainmen, even II the strike order is
not revoked.
The most startling OF the announce
ments came from the general Offices
OF the Santa Fe, in statement that
the four brotherhoods - engineers,
firemen, conductors and trainmen-
would hold meetings tonight to re-
quest the heads of their unions at
Washington to revoke the strike or
der.
In addition. suits for injunctions
against calling strikes were filed by
individual brotherhood members in
various parts Of the country, includ-
ing number Of Santa Fe trainmen
employed in Texas.
The Minneapolis & st. Louis Rail-
road. at Minneapolis. stated that en-
gineers OF that road would remain at
work to man, averring that the vote
necessary to make strike impera-
tive had not been taken. President
Calvin, Of the Union Pacific, at Oma-
ha, announced that the engineers OF
that line would remain, holding them
selves not TO be involved In the move.
ment, and he added that a very large
percentage Of conductors and train
men would remain. The general nan
ager Of the Minneapolis. st. Paul &
Sault Ste. Marie road stated that as
surances Of loyalty had been received
from 40 per cent. of the trainHen, and
that the engineers and fremen OF the
road did not take the strike vote be-
cause Of three years contract.
Promise to Stick.
H. f. Byran, Vice President Of tho
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