The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-28
SW|TCHMEN At
CHICAGO CO OUT
MEN CLAIM THAT 98 PER CENT OF
THE SIX THOUSAND EMPLOY
ED QUIT WORK.
MANAGERS DENY II
Officials Assert That rs Per Cent. of
Switchmen on Nineteen Roads Az
fected Still Are at Work-FederaI Me
diators May Take Hand.

As,. 20, July Announcement
". Tea morning at headquarters
OF the 'oel. ''hmen that 9S per
cent of six l.. rh -hmen employ
ed by the ninete, it work. II
was further stated l.. out of 14OS
switchmen unaffiliated with unions 1890
had voted to strike.
The railroad managers conference
committee announces that more than 25
per cent of the normal force is at work
in switching yards of seventeen of the
nineteen railroads in Chicago involved
All roads reported that passenger
service was little affected.
| Managers Statement Refuted.
OF the $500 switchmen in the Chicago
switching district, according to the gen.
cral managers committee, $500 belong
TO the Brotherhood of Railway Train.
men. $500 to the Switchmens Union of
America and 1900 are either non.union
or belong to some other labor organi.
zation.
James Murdock vice president Of the
b. X. T.. in stating the grievances of
the men, said they decided to strike af.
ter certain rules long contended for had
been denied
The rules in dispute include the ques.
tion Of preference being given to yard.
men In promotion TO yardmasters or
assistant yardmasters, the question OF
obtaining a rule which would prevent
the companies from reinstating men
justly discharged in disregard of the
rights Of other loyal men and commit
tees representing the yardmen, and the
matter Of giving preference to the mem.
bers of the brotherhood In employing
yardmen.
Allege Closed Shop Result.
The railroad managers assert that to
agree to the demands of the Brother.
hood OF Railway Tranlmen would estab.
lish a closed shop which would cause
G strike Of members OF the Switchmens
Union OF America. While Il is said that
no trouble IL expected IN the walkout
ali the police Of the city have been held
In reserve
The general managers conference
committee. as soon as the strike was
called. declared an embargo on all ship.
ments OF perishable goods and live stock
and notified shippers that il would be
ir force until the strike is settled.
Delays Through Trains.
Although the strike technically is 10.
cal II will have national scope to the
extent that II may delay traffic on all
transcontinental roads passing through
Chicago
After receiving the strike notice. the
general managers committee, represent.
ing all the railroads affected. appealed
to George w. Hanger, member OF the
federal bureau Of mediation and con.
citation. who is here attempting 10 set.
tie differences between the Rock Island
railroad and its telegraphers, to use his
office 10 avert a strike.
Mr.. Murdoch received early reports
from the switchmen's locals. telling that
the men had quit work promptly at the
appointed time. He again characterized
as absurd the claim Of the railroad man.
ayers that only $500 switchmen were
affiliated with the h. r. r. In the dis.
trict. and asserted that 3.4O0 was the
correct figure. He also said that actual
count OF the membership OF the Switch.
mems Union of America in the service
Of the Chicago terminals was 7Ol aud
not $500 as claimed by the railroad
managers.