The Washington times., 1916-01-28
Nationwide Organization to
Resist Attack From Three
Sides Is Planned.
COAL MINERS MAY JOIN
Workers, 100000 Stronger
Than Before. Demand Share
of Employers Prosperity.

VIEW YORK, Jan. %.-Devclopments
In the impending difficulties between the
railroads Of the United states and hum
dreds of thousands of their workers,
forecast by the referendum vote being
taken in this lodges of the four great
railway union organizations throughout
the country. indicate that the railroads
anticipate attack from three sides and
are preparing for the struggle.
In addition to the conflict which may
arise from demands of the trainmen,
1t Is predicted the anthracite coal miners
and the bituminious coal miners will
take advantage of the opportunity TO
force their demands on the mine opera
tors at the same time.
For the last few days chief operating
officials of about sixty railroads have
been in secvet conferences in this city.
Yesterday they met in the Blltmore. Lit
tie information could be obtained of
what took pa ace "a these gatherings, but
1t was learned on good authority that
one of the chief purposes is to form
the National Committee of Railway
Managers as an answer to the joint ma
tional activity of the railroad unions.
Elisha Lee, of the Pennsylvania rail-
road. was mentioned as the man who
will be chairman of the new organiza-
tion.
Lee has conducted many Eastern arhi-
tration disputes, and is said to he an
authority on railway pay schedules.
Railroads Storing Coal.
There were few Yesterday who were
inclined to predict the outcome. Never
theless the ffty-two railroads in the
Eastern district are reported to be stor-
ing up all the coal they can, and even
some Of the large hotels in the city are
quietly laying by additional supplies.
The referendum vote OF the men in
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
neers, the brotherhood of Railway Fire
men and Enginemen, the Order of Rail-
way Conductors, and the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen will be counted
about March |. This will give the lead
ers of the railroad workers thirty days
to present their demands before the mi
ners agreement with the railroads runs
out.
There are only two othef organiza- =
tions of railway officials in the country.
the Master Car Builders Association
Indications that the four powerful
railway unions are prepared financially
for strike, and that these prCpara-
tons have been going on quietly for q
long time. lie in the announcement THAI
the Brotherhood of Railway Eiremcn
and 5Egineincn have strike fund Of
$500, 900, independent of their benefit
funds. The strike fund of the Brother
hood of Trainman is said to he larger.
None of the leaders OF the Big )"
came here yestcrday. The ballots Will
the work in the East is ccntercd in
Philadelphia.
The railroad workers coWpla that
they have Just grievances because OF
the heavy increase in freight tra1iC.
Some Of the freight trains. it is said,
consist of $50 cars, taking three en-
gtnes to haul and two engines to push.
On former CasiOns, when strikes
have been threatened by locomotive
engineers, the labor leaders assert the
railroads have used the 'i'remcn against
the engineers. consequently, tho scheme
of getting the four brothcrhoods to take
joint action nresagcs II moro successful
effort in obtaining terms.
Claim Share of Prosperity.
Another reason put forward tor the
eagerness OF the railroad workers TO
get more wages is the result of the
success achieved in this direction by
workers in munitions plants. The rail-
road employees, it is said. consider they
are entitled to a part of the prosperity
the country Is enjoying and believe
concentrated demands will bring the de-
sired results.
The four men who are conducting
the plan of national evaporation
among the union workers are Warren
:. stone. grand chief of the Brother
hood of Locomotive EngnCCrs: W q.
Lee. head Of the Brotherhood Of Rail
wa Trainmen: l.. f.. Shepard. OF the
Order OF RAILWAY Conductors. and W.
s. Carter. head of the brotherhood Of
Railway FiremCn and Enginemen
1t is expected the movement to fore"
the railroads to Grant tho trainmens
demands will result in additional de-
mands from clerks. station agents,
trackmen. switch tenders. watChmen,
machinists. tcleCraph operators. car
penters. and every class Of workman
employed bv the railroads.
1t Is not disputed that these workers
deserve an increase in wages. but they
never have been able to present their
demands because they are unorganized.
Because of the strength of the big
Four" it is said. its members have
benefited. while the other branches of
hello have stood still
Foreseeing the difficulties which may
arise II the present plan is able to COM
pei the railroads to Yield. no oppor-
tunity is being lost by railroad officials
TO make ready for what is expected to
he the bitterest struggle between capital
aud labor the country has experienced.