The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-13
RetaliatOry Program Arranged
to Begin Next Saturday.
Begin With Eastern Lines, Call
ing Out 10000 Men.
ULTIMATUM ON 8-HOUR LAW
Rail Tieup if Conference on
Thursday Fails.
Add to 1t Daily Until All Lines
in e. S. Affected.

III a. % AncCtCus
New York, March 13-Informatlon
received by the national conference
committee composed OF managers %
the great railway systems ana ma laia +ae,
public by that body today, Indicates
that the four employees brothet-
hoods have completed arrangements
for a progressive series of strikes TO
begin at 6 O'Clock. Eastern time
Saturday night. if the conference on
the eight-hour question held mere
Thursday fail to reach saustac-
tory agreement. The proposed STRIFE
program according to TINS lHIoIllia
ton is as follows.
This position will be based on the
contention it was stated authoritative
" that the railroads entered INTO d
stipulation with the government 10
do nothing to alter the status quo
pending a decision by the supreme
court on the Adamson law A ran
road representative said that the man
ayers were convinced that the men
asked for the conference for the dell
mite purpose of presenting an ultl-
matum on the S-hour question II
was stated that it is expected TINS III
timatum will be based on the demands
of the men made last year on Whlch
the strike vote calling for a walk out
last September was cast. 1t Will not
be based on a demand for the en-
forcement of the Adamson law, the
railroad representative said as that
grants less than the strike vote de-
manded. ,
Saturday p. m.-Call out all
trainmen in freight service on the
New York Central, Baltimore ana
Ohio. Erie, Atlantic Coast line, South
ern railway Louisville ana NasnVl ~.
and Seaboard Air line. Such an Or
der would involve 40, 900 men.
Monday March 10, p. m:-Can
out the freight trainmen on the Le-
high Valley, Lackawanna, Jersey Cen
trail Pennsylvania, Long Island
Main Central Delaware and Boston,
Reading and all other roads in the
southeastern territory or extending
to New York.
out all the freight trainmen IN the
northeastern group, including the
Hill road and all those center1ng at
Chicago. 49,
railroads still refuse to grant the
mems terms, extend the strike TO all
other freight trainmen and call out
the passenger tralnmeh OH eNiS
road in the country.
Labor Leaders NoncommittaI-
washington, March, 13-The spec
tire of the threatened nauon-Wlde
railroad strike that disappeared dl
the close of the session last summer
when the Adamson eight-hour law
was pushed through congress loomed
up again today.
One point, however, was emphaslzed
NV the brotherhood leaders, who will
confer with the railroad heads in
New York, Thursday In the event OF
hostflities there will be no strike.
Should a strike be called and war
come meantime, any strike Would De
called off instantly.
1.-THE brotherhoods will not climb
to victory on the nations misfortune
Warren Stone, w G. Lee, W. D car
ter and E l.. Sheppard, the four pig
brotherhood chiefs here to attend the
conference of the nations leaders
of labor who are deciding what labor
part shall be in any war, continued
ominously silent on the strike ques-
ton.
I'VE neither confirm nor deny that
a strike call will be issued soon,'' said
their spokesman.
AS evidence of their determination
not to embarrass the government in
an emergency, the brotherhood chiefs,
without argument, voted with the Ia
Dor council unanimously to uphold a
resolution expressing the Willingness
of more than two million members
of organized labor as represented by
the brotherhoods and the American
Federation of Labor, to do their bit
and do it with all their energy in
any national emergency that may
arise.
chief Lee, spokesman for the four
chiefs. indicated today that a formal
position may be forthcoming later
today.
Coincidental with it's stand to help
out in case of war, the labor coun-
ell, presided over by Samuel Gompers,
took a firm position against militar-
ism; in taking this stand, however. a
difference was drawn between mil
itarism" and universal service; and
it was voted also to demand that
rich and poor be treated with unequi-
vocal sameness in any universal ser
vice plans war heads might decide on.
The council likewise voted against
any use of the military Industrial dis
putes.
Text of Letter to Wilson.
The brotherhoods letter dated
March I, and sent to the president
from Cleveland, reads:
We feel obligated to officially
advise you of our intention to again
meet the national conference COM
mittee of the railways on March Is
for the purpose of making another
effort to adjust the pending eight
hour controversy.
I'VE are very hopeful of working
out a satisfactory adjustment with
the railroads, but if, while we are
negotiating our country should be-
come involved in war, we want to
assure you, as chief executive of the
nation that we and the member
ship we represent can be relied
upon to support you to the fullest
extent and that yourself and the ma
ton will have our hearty and full
support"
No Strike Order Received Yet.
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