The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-13
President of Trainmen'S Broth
erhOOd Sure of This.
Lee Makes Positive Statement
After Chicago Meeting.
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CHANGED
Trainmen VIII Not Defy the
q. S. Supreme Court.
A Satisfactory Law Expected in
the Near Future.

Chicago, Jan. 13.-W. G. Lee, presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, declared here that there
never will be a nationwide railroad
strike.
mo matter what decision is handed
down by the United States supreme
court you never will hear any of US
| threaten a strike which would tie up
the railroads of the nation" he de-
clared.
The statement was made Immediate
ly after the adjournment of the meet
ing of the $40 chairmen of the four
big railway brotherhoods. The chair
men unanimously passed a resolution,
endorsing the recommendations of the
chief executives to allay public fear
of such a gigantic struggle as a ma
tion-wide strike would bring They
also voted full confidence in their
four leaders and placed in their hands
the same power they held when the
last meeting of the chairmen was held
in Washington August %.
I'VE want the shippers and the gen.
eral public to rest content with our
pledge" said Mr.. Lee. "a little later
a statment signed by Warren G. Stone,
w. s. Carter, L. E. Sheppard and my
self will be given out.
IF any one in the future tries to
create fear in the public mind that
general strike will be called, you can
be assured he is not acting for the
four brotherhoods, but against them >
Never Threaten 1t, Even.
The declaration of assurance to the
public came after a day of debate over
number of subjects. The bill pre-
viding for. a straight eight-f1our day
and~eomPulsofy investigation before a
strike could be called, was condemned
by every speaker. The chief execu-
tives were instructed to use every
means to defeat the bill.
| Every chairman was appointed a
committee of one to confer with the
United States senators and represen-
| tativeS for his state and inform them
| of the united opposition to the enact
ment of any law which will prevent
railroad men from lettering their
! condition.
After condemning the bill the uues-
ton of nationwide strike was taken
up. Many chairmen reported that it
would be calamity to wreck the bus
mess of the nation by a strike of that
magnitude. 1t was charged that to
not deny the many rumors af1oat now
would injure the members of the four
brotherhoods.
Circumstances Changed.s
circumstances have changed" said
| President Lee. I'VE must not be
placed in the position of threatening
the supreme court. Now is the time
| for us to take a firm stand that a
nationwide strike will not be ordered
even if the supreme court decides
against US.
1T is my firm belief that we event
ualiy will gain the basic eight-hour
day with ten hours pay as recon-
mended by the president and con-
gress With the president so firmly
for the principles we can rest content
| for the time being"
The chairmen then unanimously in
| structed the chief executives to state
clearly the trend of the brotherhoods
| on a nationwide strike.
President Lee said the action did
not mean that no strike of any kind
would be called in the future. He
said that as in the past, there may be
| occasions when strikes will be ordered
on one or more railroads. The power
to call a strike still is held by the
chief executives of the four unions
/ H.