New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-13
First Strike Expected
On Eastern Lines
Next Saturday Night

o,ssvs for a nationwide strike, ef-
,..,,v. Saturday. 20 enforce the pro
,,,,,,, q the Adamson bill have been
i.,u.s ky the Big Four railroad broth
ersosss. according to information
reaching the managers OF the big East
sr, rsilroads Yesterday. No formal or
oSrial notice has been served on them
In, the source Of their information IS
rch thai they have no doubt II 10
suihsntc. =.
ia. the New York Central system the
Erie and the Baltimore & ONO sys-
tens in the North, and the Atlantic
Coast Line. the Southern, the Louis,
vile & Nashville and the Seaooard
Air Line will be affected first. the
orders 70 their freight employees beng
70 quit Saturday night. Monday night
the freight men on all other Eastern
lines. exccpt the New Haven, are ex-
peeted 10 20 out The freight men IN
he Northwest are expected TO follow
suit on Tuesday. and on Wednesday
tie remaining freight men and all OF
the passenger crews In the country
are to quit
Will Move War Trains
II these orders no exception Is made
for the tran Importation of the mails or
Of foodstufs William J. Lee, head OF
The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
statement issued in Cleveland Sat
urdsy, said that the brotherhoods
would provide the government WIN
usss 10 move troops and munitions.
Rumors hat such orders were about
70 issue have been in circulation SINCE
early last week. wen Elisha Lee
chairman Of the railway managers, re-
es.vsd a request from the Big -FOUR
leaders for a conference 20 be held IN
This city Thursday. II was not until
Yesterday. however. that the report
look definite form from sources known
y the railroad operators 70 be re1a-
BE. Formal notice of the intent 70
strike IS expected al Thursdays con
Terence. II was said yesterday that
under no circumstances Will any agree
nsnt be entered into by the railroads
pending action by the Supreme Court
The situation is serious" said the
''eia"rs yesterday.
Railways Expected Strike
The issuance Of the strike orders
eoes not come % the railroads as a
'erprise. On January 12. at conference
q he brotherhood leaders in Chicago
hs question Of a strike was discussed
sad u vas finally decided 20 take no
Immediate action. At that time mo-
~ ur~mf p Ia q
Supreme Court was tabled. On Febru-
az % a circular was issued by the BIG
roar fixing March > as the limit OF
NtEr gait for the Supreme Court
no decision vas forthcoming on tha'
s4ie. and last week the leaders wrote
ron Cleveland asking for confer
nee. About the same time calls were
'sni out for a meeting Of Middle West
IN ehairmen az Cleveland on Saturday
.a'i o. the Southern men 20 meet al
H@shingtOn tonight and the chairmen
p ne Eastern territory 90 meet mere
Hfontsoay night. With the call ior
.l''s meetings the orders 20 strike are
-lesrstood % have issued.
ite request % the managers Tor 4
inference on Thursday carried no
.itL oi an uit.matym, end published
''tpFis o. The Cleveland conference
.intd The Impression that the brother
10 men would do nothing 20 EN-
wiisss The government a. this time
plism q. Lee announced that the
.siasnt had been notified % that ei'
- somewhat different meaning wai
~sa On The communication when
- i1i statement Was received m
~ city yesterday.
=. ns assured the President" IL read
- % matter what our relation
~ % With The railroads. We would
nat sufficient men and trains were
,h.thec 70 transport munitions
,ipmfhi and men and 20 take care Oi
r.'Fff transportation the govern
-snt might require"