The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-28
Half TranscOntinentaI Freight
ParaIyzed Today.
Santa Fe Able To Move Half
It's Freight Thru Chicago.
TROUBLE OVER UNION FIGHT
Strikers Claim SO Per Cent of
$500 Switchmen Out.
b. X. 7. Demands Closed Shop
Against Members S. U. n. A.

Chicago, July 2S-An authorized
statement for the railroads. issued this
afternoon, regarding the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen switchmen's
strike in the Chicago district says:
THE railway management is much
gratified with the situation and the
outlook 1t is most unusual for so
large a percentage of operation to be
conducted the first day of strike.
Passenger service is not affected,
all reports received showing that 1t
is being maintained at 100 per cent
Government business and perisha-
BILE freight are being handled in good
shape.
''The situation will be in better
shape tomorrow and few days should
see normal conditions"
Chicago. July 2s.-Nearly half of
the transcontinental freight traffic or
the United States was paralyzed today
as a result of the switchmen's strike,
called in Chicago at a. m.
Ninety per cent of the cross-coun-
try traffic clears thru this city. Short
ly before noon the railroads admitted
that they were moving only about 80
Per cent of their normal freight traf-
fic. They claimed. however, that
passenger traffic was practically nor
NAL.
All munitions and other govern
ent business was being given the
right of way over everything else and
The railroads reported that this class
Of traffic was being loved in good
shape"
U. s. Mediator There.
Uncle Sam had his eye on the stu
alton, in the person of G. w. w Han
gar, member of, the federal buard of
mediation and Cancellation. Hangar
came here Thursday to investigate
the threatened telegra pliers strike on
the Rock Island railroad. The switch
men already had taken a strike vote
when he arrived, however. and on the
request of the railroads representa-
tives he proposed mediation to the
switchmen.
The switchmen had sent their rep
resentatives to the various yards and
meeting with Hangar was impossi-
bic at that time, but James Murdoch
vice president of the Brotherhood of
halfway Trainmen-of which the
majority of the striking switcnmen
are members-assured the govern
!. ent representative that he would
set the committee together as soon as
possible and put the matter of media
uon up to them. This may be accom-
plished late today.
May Affect Military.
Hangar is not in position to force
eSNNAOh ny CllileT sue DuC 1t is
Known in case the strike se-iouslv
threatens government business any
report he may make to the war de-
partmeEt would be acted on at once.
United States District Attorney
CIyne admitted that fedora; operatives
We're watching the progress of the
strike and that amy interference with
the movement of government traffic
would be dealt with promptl,"
me strike, according to the rail
roads, is, in way a union fight. The
sWltchmen holding the membership in
the b. r. T. took the initiative TODAY
because, the railroads aIlege thew
were refused closed shop in their
favor, which would give them prefer
ence over members of he Switch
mems Union of North America and
non-union switchmen. The railroads
say there are about $500 each of r
h L. and S. q. N. A, and about 1 500
on-unionists.
Affects 19-Railroads.
According to the railroads. the G IT
N A, which is affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor. is aid
ing them in the strike by importing
strike breakers. The B. R. t. on the
other Land maintains that MANY 8
u. N. A. men and non-unionists have
gone out with them
The railroads today gave ont the
following figures on the amount of
freight being moved by seventeen of
the nineteen railroads affected.
Santa Fe. fifty per cent: Baltimore
IT..