Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-16
ALL TRAINMEN
NOT TO RESPOND
CONTINUED From First Page1


found one Judas among the twelve. He
selected" Mr.. Lee said. I'VE therefore
do not hope to beat His record and
we look for at least one in twelve.
The only way to determine whether
our men are in earnest is to count
noses Sunday and thereafter.
Don't forget that we left the en-
August, and agreed TO abide by his
proposal then. The railroads refused
to settle the question. 1 have since
publicly proposed to leave the entire
controversy to President Wilson to
say personally whether we should have
the eight-hour day in freight and yard
service without reduction of the pres
ent daily rates.
The railroads seemingly prefer a
strike rather than abide by President
Wilson's suggested method of settle-
ment. Who is disloyal to the gov
ernmente"
Strike Order Issued
4 copy OF the formal notification
that a strike has been authorized Sc
cretly sent out by the four brother
hood chiefs to general and local COM
mitteemen from Cleveland on March
10, was obtained here to-day. 1t calls
for the peaceful Withdrawal" at a
given time later to be designated, but
urges passenger train employees and
those on trains handling milk and
mails exclusively to continue on duty
for five days after the strike actually
commences.
"A refusal of the passenger men to
observe these instructions" the order
says, will not only violate the laws
of their respective organizations, but
will produce complications which will
greatly injure the cause"
The order explains that this action
Affecting men on passenger and eX-
clusively milk and mail trains was
taken after many days of careful
consideration" for the reasons:
First. that the public may be in
convenienced. as little as possible;
that exclusive milk and mail trains,
in addition to passenger trains, may
to children or serious inconvenience
in business.
Look For .'Scabs''
Second, our membership will be eX-
pected to come in contact with the
public to explain our position and at
the same time they will be in a posi-
ton to keep us in touch with what is
going on for at least five days.
Third, it is we'll known fact that
it is much easier to get men to scab
when positions on passenger trains or
engines are vacant than it would be if
they knew they had to tackle heavy
drags or yard work.
Fourth, the history of al strikes
which lasted any length of time, is
that the passenger trains were run to
greater or less degree.
Fifth, while we are prepared for
the worst the die has been cast; there
is no turning back, but we hope and
believe a strike can be won without
the passenger men leaving the serv-
The order expressed
ice"
The order expressed the sincere
hope that none Of our membership will
be required to withdraw from the
service" and concluded:
1T was decided not to call a naton-
wide strike II 1t can be avoided and
our word TO that effect has been given
to the President of the United States
and to many of our friends in the Sem
ate and House OF Representatives. II 1t
becomes necessary. however, to leave
the service on any property. we will
not hesitate to call upon as many lines
as necessary to make this movement a
success, and while it was necessary for
some system or group of lines to make
the issue first, our confidence in the
membership on all the lines is the same
should 1t be necessary to call upon
them