The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-31
APPROACHOF TINE
FOR STRIKE FINDS
PREPARING
All Railroads Entering Biz
mingham Would Be At
fected if Tie-Up Comes
MANY ARE LAYING IN
SURPLUS SUPPLIES
Railroads Preparing Lists of Men to
Take Places on Trains if the
Strike Order Becomes
Effective

Profound silence and marked activity
were the striking features in the atti-
tude of the railway officials and the
members of the brotherhoods in Birming-
ham yesterday with respect to the threat
ened strike. The general public was ap-
prehensive but hopeful.
None of the officials of the railways
here would make any kind of statement
for publication and the officials of the
various trainmen's organizations merely
expressed determination to stand by
the action of their leaders. They ex-
pressed realization of the seriousness
of the contemplated action.
In the meantime, the residents of Bir-
mingham. and many of the large cor
porations, are laying in surplus supplies
of the necessities of life. Despite the
confident reports from the wholesalers and
the produce merchants that the city can
run 80 days on it's present supplies, there
was marked activity in all kinds of
foodstuffs and other commodities which
would first be affected by railway tie-up
The railroads were kept busy in an ef-
fort to keep the traffic moving and to sup
ply enough cars to meet the sudden emer-
gency which had come upon them, due
to the effort of various individuals and
companies not to be caught unawares.
Small industries everywhere were order
ing enough coal to last few weeks and
difficulty was had in meeting the de-
mands.
PLAN OF ACTION
AS to the steps which were being taken
by the railroads to meet the threatened
strike, none of the local representatives
would talk. However, it became known
that the general offices of all lines had
mapped out plan of action and in some
cases these plans had already been re-
ceived by the various division heads.
The Central of Georgia and some of the
other lines were already at work in an
effort to secure men to take the places
Of those who might strike Monday
1t was reported on rehaole authority
that a list of employees VINO will continue
to work after the strike has been pre-
pared and other employees not in the
branches represented in the proposed tic
up are being listed for work in the broth
erhood members places. The outward
calm at the various offices of the oper-
ating heads of the roads entering Biz
mingham only served to empha size the
feverish excitement going on behind the
scenes.
TIE-UP UNIVERSAL
Some of the local railroad officials,
speaking privately, stated that all talk OF
being able to run trains Immediately after
the men walked out was futile From
two to three days would transpire, in
their opinion, before any considerable
number of trains could be moved in this
section. Even then, they were inclined
to believe that the munger would be
only enough to move the absolute neces-
sites of life. The brotherhood men were
of the opinion that the tie-up would for
sometime at least be practically uni
versal
The majority of the roads entering
Birmingham during yesterday and last
night issued orders placing an embargo
on all freight of a perishable nature
that could not reach it's destination by
Saturday at noon. The embargo was
also extended to all kinds of explo-
sives. The lines entering Birmingham
which have not yet issued these or
are expected to follow suit today.
The report that had gained consid-
cradle circulation here to the effect
that the men employed on several of
the local lines could not strike on &C.
count of wage agreement which had
not expired, received positive and We
hement denial yesterday from both Of
ficials of the roads and the brother
hoods. 1t was stated emphatically
that all the roads were in the same
condition in this regard and that the
strike would affect all in practically
the same degree
The fact that wage agreements had
been in effect would have no bearing,
1T was explained. because all of them
were made subject to being nullified
on 80 days notice. which had been
given by all the brotherhoods some
time ago when the request for the
new wages and conditions were made.
1t was stated that this was true with
similar agreements all over the coun-
try.
SHORT FOOD SUPPLY
In the event the strike is declared
Birmingham will be able to furnish
practically all kinds of supplies for a
period of not more than 80 days, ac-
cordng to wholesale dealers on Nor
ris avenue While the supply is not
large, dealers have been preparing for
the emergency to the best of their abil-
ity and have received shipments in
excess of the immediate demand.
Considerable nervousness was no.
ticeable on Morris avenue yesterday in
buying, while prices remained steady
in all lines. Corporations and retailers
started a run .on staple supplies that
resembled run on bank and for a
fip,a 1Onked ~ SlInp1fas IN Nor.