Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-03-16
Split in Ranks of Western. Brother:
hoods Will, it is Believed, Defeat
the Proposed Movement.

New Ork, MARCH lO.-lHe Illredl'
ened general strike of 100000 mem
bers of the four big brotherhoods
will begin at o'clock, central time
tomorrow night. Conferences between
the brotherhood chiefs and the ma
tional conference committee Of the
railways ended in deadlock last
night.
Ne further conferences have been
called. Unless the brotherhood chiefs
themselves cancel the strike order OF
Federal intervention is brought about
within the next thirty-six hours, the
strike will be on.
In the final hours Of the confer
ence held yesterday afternoon at the
Grand Central Terminal brotherhood
chiefs submitted an ultimatum to
have the eight-hour law put in force
at once. The railroad managers re-
jected the proposal and offered the
counter proposition that the contro-
versy be settled by the Goethal Com
mission. This was rejected by the
brotherhood chiefs.
Only Federal intervention now can
avert the general tie-up of the rail-
roads of the country. An official ap-
peal from the Wilson administration
was received in the conference room
yesterday, when the brotherhood and
railroad chiefs were engaged in heat
ed debate. 1t was ignored.
The conference committee of the
railroad general managers offered
to submit all matters in dispute to
the Goethals eight-hour day commit
tee, without regard to the determina-
tion of the United States Supreme
Court on the Adamson law. The Offer
was refused.
Kansas City, Mo-, March 16.- A
split in the ranks of the railroad
brotherhoods has developed that viii
defeat the proposed Strike, railroad
officials declared here last night. Re-
representatives. of the four brother
hoods of at least six railroads enter
ing Kansas City went to the Chicago
conference yesterday, it is said, with
resolutions declaring they will not
join in the strike. The point at issue
is the IS per cent referendum vote,
which the employees contend is not to
the advantage of the Western unions
under present conditions.
Newport News, March 16. - A
general order issued at the offices OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company here yesterday, declaring an
absolute embargo on freight ship
ments, means virtul suspension OF
traffic on the road. Notice has been
served ON all shippers, it was stated
that all shipments from all points
would be rejected after the close OF
business yesterday, and that ship
ments from connecting lines, which
includes steamship lines, would not
be received after tonight. The same
order applies to shipments taken by
the Chesapeake and Ohio at juno
tion points. With the exception OF
fnel coal for the railroad sitself, no
freight will be moved pending can
celation of the embargo order.
One result of. the order. which will
be followed by similar action by the
Norfolk and Western and the Virginia
Railroad, it was stated, means. that
practically all ships coming into
Hampton Roads will be held up here
by lack of bunker coal. The quantity
of coal now on hand at the piers is
sufficient only for ships now in port,
| it is learned.
Under the embargo order, work on
government ships at the shipyard
will be greatly hampered, as material
needed for construction of warships
under contract is due to arrive daily.
No orders relative to provisions for
passenger traffic have been issued as
yet.
TON OF POWDER BLOWS UP.