New-York tribune., 1917-07-30
Chicago Railroad
Managers Say
Strike Is Won
Predict Settlement Within
a Few Days After
Conference
Mediator Is Called In
Federal Official Summoned After
Conference Lasting Until
Midnight
Mediator Is Called In

CblcagO, July ZS.--r OI4o"iHB HeeI-
ing Of the general managers of the
nineteen railroads affected by the
strike of switchmen in the Chicago
yards, statement was issued late to-
night by George Hsnnauer, chairman
of the conference committee of gen.
eral managers, that the strike was al
ready won on most of the lines effected
and that it doubtless would be settled
shortly.
A plan for the settlement Of the
strike was submitted to the rail-
roads by representatives Of the three
big railroad brotherhoods not involved
in the controversy-the Order Of Rail-
way Conductors, the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers and the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Enginemen and
Firemen.
The railroad committeeman would
not indicate what the plan to bring
peace was. 1t was submitted first to
the general managers conference COM
mittee, and referred by them to the
whole committee.
The railroad men tonight said some
of the roads were operating to full 100
per cent of normal, and that all were
handling a large share Of their usual
business.
The brotherhoods' representatives
also requested the railroads committee
for a statement of conditions upon
which the local strike of switchmen,
who are affiliated with the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen, was based.
The request for information was in
terpreted by some as signifying that
the strike was called locally, and
without full discussion by the general
officers of the organization. II was said
the men might be ordered back TO
work soon.
While the "Big Four" railroad
brotherhoods had the support OF Sam
uel Gompers and the American Fed
Grafton of Labor in their efforts to put
the Adamson law on the statute books,
the Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen,
on strike in Chicago to enforce the
closed shop, will have neither the SYM
pathy nor the support OF either IN
the present controversy.
On the contrary, there is good au-
thority for stating that whatever
power the American Federation may
have in the premises will be thrown to
the Switchmen's Union Of North
America against whose members the
strike is directed This organization
is one of the two railroad unions af-
fliated with the American Federation
the other being the Order OF Rail-
way 1elegraphers. H. B. Perham,
president of the latter organization,
was in the city yesterday, but refused
TO discuss the Chicago situation.
Privately some of the leaders ex-
pressed a fear that one result of the
strike would be the enactment Of anti
strike legislation. While the American
Federation stands committed TO pre-
serve so far as possible industrial
peace, it would be very much opposed
to any legislation depriving organized
labor of what its leaders consider their
most effective weapon.
There would be no weeping in local
labor circles if the strike should end
in a thorough beating Of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen.
"The brotherhoods have run wild,
said one leader of national prominence
last night, "and it may be for the good
of all that this strike has been called
They have gotten away with murder
but it is doubtful if they get away
with this. 1t is easily within the pos
sibilities that this is the beginning o
the end Of the reckless domination o
the Big Four From this distance /
looks as though the trainmen had bit
ten off more than they can chew"
The leader of the Switchmen's Uniol
of North America is Samuel B. Heber
ling, of Buffalo, one Of the bes
known labor men in the Unite
States. He is we'll known i
this city, and on his last visi
is understood TO have told friend
that he expected the Brotherhoo
Of Trainmen would attempt (
put his organization out of busines:
81 don't know how far they viii! 20,
he said, "but it would not be surp!is
ing II they should try to initiate III
Kaiser. We all know what is comin
to the Kaiser"