The Washington times., 1916-01-28
n. Y. RAILROADMEN
TO FIGHT BIG STRIKE
BY 4 CHIEF UNIONS
Nation Wide Organization to
Resist Attack From Three
Sides Is Planned.
COAL MINERS MAY JOIN
Workers, 100000 Stronger
Than Before, Demand Share
Of Employers Prosperity.
COAL MINERS MAY JOIN

IN the impending difficulties between the
railroads of the United states and hun
dreds of thousands Of their workers..
forecast by the referendum vote being
taken In the 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 secret conferences i'm this city.
Yesterday they met in the Blltmore. Lit
tie Information could be obtained OF
what took place IN these gatherings, but
twas 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 arbi-
tratton disputes, and is said to be an
Railroads Storing Coal.
There were few yesterday who were
inclined to predict the outcome. Never
theless the fifty-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 win be counted
about March l. 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 other organiza-
tions of railway officials in the country,
the Master Car Builders Association
and the American Railway Association.
Indications that the four powerful
railway unions are prepared financially
for q strike. and that these prepara-
tionS have been going on quietly for o
Longtime lie in the announcement that
the Brotherhood Of Railway ,Eiremen
and LEgfnemen have strike fund Of
$500 00Os 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 yesterday. The ballots will
the work in the East is centered in
Philadelphia.
The railroad workers complain that
they have just grievances because OF
the heavy increase in freight tranic.
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 occasions. when strikes
have been threatened by locomotive
engineers, the labor leaders assert the
railroads have used the 'fIfemen against
the engineers, consequently, the scheme
of getting the four brotherhoods to take
joint action presages a more successful
effort in obtaining terms.
Claim Share of Prosperity.
Another reason put forward for the
eagerness of the railroad workers 10
get more wages is the result of the
success achieved in this direction by
workers in munitions plants. The rail-
road employees, 1t 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 cooperation
among the union workers are Warren
s. Stone grand chief of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers: w. G.
Lee. head of the Brotherhood of Rail
way Trainmen; l.. E.. Shepard. of the
Order OF Railway Conductors. and w.
s. Carter. head of the Brotherhood of
Railway Ftremen and Enginemen.
1t Is expected the movement to force
the railroads to grant the trainmen's
demands will result in additional de-
mands from clerks. station agents,
trackmen. switch tenders. watchmen.
machinists. telegraph operators. car
penters. and every class Of workman
employed by 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
help 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 bv railroad officials
10 make ready for what is expected to
he the bitterest struggle between capital
and labor the country has experienced.