The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-08-30
What STRIKE WOULD
mean To THIS CITY
HUNDRED AND TEN MEN AND
FAMILIES DIRECTLY AT
FECTED BY WALkOUT.
SHORTAGE FOODS
MADISON FAVORED BY NEVER
ENDING SUPPLY OF MANY UR-
GENTLY NEEDED STAPLES.

Although a railway strike which
would tie up traffic here could prove
but little short of calamitous to the
business interests and to the welfare
of the citizens of the city, Madison
would fare better. if cut off from
eastern markets. than would most
other cities of the middle west, in
the opinion of many local business
men.
With the prospect of the train
mems and enginemen's strike issue
reaching a deadlock next Monday,
even the railway men directly affect
ed are specializing on the effect a
general walkout would have. Both
railway officials and men i'm actual
operation OF trains here are reticent
in regard to the probability OF "a
strike.
Trainmen, for the most part. say
the matter is entirely in the hands
of the officers of the organizations
representing the employees and the
heads of the roads. The probability
that there will be a strike, however.
provided the rail executives do not
accede to the mems demands. looms
larger every hour.
Local Men Expect Tieup.
Commercial travellers arriving in
the city yesterday and today stated
they had been informed by trainmen
with whom they have enjoyed a long
acquaintance, that the chances are
more than 100 to / that there will
not be a freight train move out of
Madison next Monday. even should
officials succeed i'm starting trains on
which mail is carried.
Residing i'm Madison and running
east. west or north or working i'm the
local yards, are 10 trainmen and
enginemen. who would be affected
By a walkout. A few additional train
crews, running south of Madison,
now lay over here a night or a day
between runs. The exact proportion
Of employees affiliated with the train
mems brotherhood is not known.
1t is pointed out that while many
lines of industry in larger cities
would be put temporarily out of bust
ness. at least, by a railway strike
continuing a couple of weeks OF long
er, traffic would have TO be held
up for a much more lengthy period
before really grave effects would be
come apparent. it is predicted.
Could Supply Most Staples.
Business men of several metrop
olises have estimated that a strike O
two weeks duration would cause Z
famine in coal. flour, eggs, meat anC
other commodities. it is not though
locally that such would be Madison!
experience.
Fuel dealers here give the assur
ance that there is at least enough
coal on hand to supply all needs un
til the middle of December or later
and there can be manufactured 10
cally just about all the flour con
sumed i'm the community. The hom'
production of milk and most vege
tables is adequate for all require
ments, and with eggs constantly be
ing marketed from the surrounding
country, a railway strike would in
crease rather than diminish the sup
ply of hal food as well as 0
chickens.
Could Use Autos.
1t is pointed out that while tn,
abandoning of freight traffic woult
result in a shortage of fresh beef am
pork and of many lines OF %grocerie
within a very few days. many of tn.
more urgent necessities could, 81
long as nearby jobbing house stock
held out at least, be brought by auto
mobile or motor truck, regardless o
the additional expense that sue.
transportation would entail.