Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-17
COAST LINE FREIGHT
CLERKS co ON STR|KE
Demand Recognition Of Recent,
Formed Union and Open
Headquarters Here.
RAILROAD is HIRING OTHERS
Only 80 Per Cent Go Out, OmciaIl
State, Most Of Them Being Wound
Mon Whose Places Can BE FilledI
Were Recently Given Increase.

With the employment OF additional
clerks and tho shifting OF other cm
ployees in the freight station. there wa
no delay yesterday in the handling
freight by the Atlantic Coast Lind
Railroad Company as result of =
walk-out shortly after 10 o'clock by
twenty-eight clerks. Approximately Ri
peg cent Of the clerks. officials OF tbl
railroad said. remained at their desk,Y
Most of the striking employees wer1
young men. No interruption to freiph1
traffic because OF the strike will rcsnIt ]
1t was stated. and the situation will b.
met by the employment OF new cIerksI
The freight clerks declare that tho
strike Is tho result Of the railroad,,Y
failure to recognize their organizat,on]
the Brotherhood OF Railway ClerksJ
This union recently was the cause Of 4
general strike on the Seaboard Air Lind
Hallway at many points, but the waIk
out was adjusted between the Seaboard|
and the clerks. Since that time tn.
Coast Limo men have been considertnR{
Joining this union. and have hold SOW
eral meetings.
Officials of the Coast Limo told III
clerks that the railroad could not
recognize tho union at this time. bel
cause OF the critical situation facinsI
them in handling government supplies.
In addition. II was also pointed out that
the railroad had granted voluntary
increase In wages OF from 10 to IL perI
cent on May l. and in many ways wasI
doing everything possible for the
clerks. They were asked not to becom y
affiliated with the union. officials said,
but no threats wore made against theml
al any time.
The matter came to head last week
and General Superintendent w. ri
Newell. with headquarters in Roc,>y
Mount. n. C.. addressed the men. All
that time. It was stated matters dbl
not seem threatening, and tho men
agreed to take the suggestion under
consideration. They promised to make
known their decision yesterday. Shortly
before 10 o'clock they told the agent.
w. L. Freeman. that they would not|
withdraw from the union. and gave the
company until o'clock in tho aftcr-
noon to recognize them.
A short time later. however. nv
Freeman found that practically all
work had been stopped by the clerks,
and their attention was directed 70 tho
vast amount OF work demanding heir
attention. Mr.. Freeman Is said to have
had slight controversy with one yf1
the clerks. W. II. Blankenship. with tho
result that he was dismissed. Thu
twenty-seven other clerks Immediately
walked out Of the station. Supcrin.
tendent Newell arrived In Richmond
yesterday afternoon to assist local Of
hc!als in Strengthening the tarSlc.
Emphatic denial was made by rail-
road officials that the strike wa. thu
result Of a dismissal of one O. .he
clerks. or that any threats had been
made against any OF the men n, any
time Officials wero not greatly
alarmed last night over the situation.
saying that twelve now men were en-
ploycd during the afternoon, and hat
traffic was being handled without dini-
Guilty. They anticipated no other
trouble at any points on the Coast Line
system
The clerks Immediately opened head
quarters In Room 1913 in Murphy's Hot Il
tho snfne room in which the striking
Scaboard clerks held their conferences
and last night were expecting a rep
resentativc Of the union in Richmond
within tho next few hours to TAX.
charge Of the situation.