The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-28
TIE UP TRAFFIC


per cent; Burlington. SO per cent;
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul. SO per
cent; Chicago & Western Indiana, SO
per cent; Chicago Junction (Union
Stock Yards). 33 per cent; Illinois
Central, SO per cent; New York Cen
trail, so per cent: Nickel Plate, SO per
cent; Monon, SO per cent Wabash, 70
per cent; Pennsylvania, good shape;"
Baltimore & Ohio Terminal, good
shape"
Only a few of the railroads have
declared embargoes and these were
on livestock and perishable freight
Strikers Version Of 1t.
In statement giving the strikers
version in the strike with the rail-
road, Murdoch said:
More than SO per cent of the
switchmen in Chicago yards are on
strike and these include members OF
the Switchmen's Union OF North
American and the unorganized men,
as well. There are 3,40O members
in the brotherhood of Railway Train
men here. There are only 7o1 switch.
men in. the Switchmen's Union of
| North America, not $500 as the rail-
roads contend.
1--WE asked the railroads to make
an agreement to employ not less than
IS per cent brotherhood members
| This they refused to do. 1t has been
| the practice on many lines to give
brotherhood members preference. but
on some lines the companies have de-
! liberate1y given preference to mem
| bers of the Switchmen's Union OF
| North America or non-union men, SO
| that the percentage of the employees
| belonging to the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen might be kept
| down below a fair working percent
age.
There is no desire to insist on the
closed shop but 1t is contended that
| if, as an organization, the Brother
! hood of Railroad Trainmen is expect
ed to make good on contracts nego-
| tiated with the railroad companies
| that they should be given reason
! able opportunity to do so, and that
| can only be done by recognizing the
| organization with whom contract is
| held in the employment of men"
May Call Out Home Guards.
! Police Chief Scheuttler said this aft
er noon that if the situation became
/ serious he would call out the Chicoga
| home guards, comprising about l,50o
members. for strike duty.
| James Murdoch, vice president of the
| B. r. T, in stating the grievances of
| the men,. said they decided to strike
| after certain rules long contended for
had been denied.
Some Rules in Dispute, Too.
The rules in dispute include the
question of preference being given to
| yardmen in promotion to yardmasters
or assistant yardmasterS; the question
| of obtaining a rule which would pre-
vent the companies from reinstatlng
| men Justly discharged in disregard of
the rights of other loyal men, and
committees representing the yardmen
and the matter of giving preference
| to the members of the brotherhood in
employing yardmen.
The railroad managers assert that
TO agree to the demands of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen would
establish closed shop, which would
cause a strike of members CT the
Switchmen's Union of America.
Come to Break Strike.
Hundreds of switchmen were pour
ing into Chicago from all parts of the
| country today to aid the railroads in
breaking the strike
The Switch1.-en's Union of North
America, which charges that the
brotherhood switchmen are striking
| to force the S. u A. into nor-exist-
cnce, by asking for a closed shop. is
aiding the railroads in importing
strike breakers
Fears of a sympathetic strike by
the brotherhoods of engineers fire
men and conductors were disrelled
early today with the announcement
that these men would remain at work.
More than 1000 policemen were on
duty in the railroad yards.
10 Railroads Affected.
The following railroads are affected
| by the strike:
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.
Baltimore Ohio.
| Chicago & Alton.
Chicago & Western Indiana.
Chicago & Northwestern.
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy.
Chicago junction.
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul.
| Chicago indianapolis & Louisville.
| Erie.
/ Indiana Harbor Belt.
Illinois Central.
| Lake Shore & Michigan Southern.
New York, Chicago & st. Louis.
! Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago &
st. Louis.
Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago.
Belt Railway of Chicago.
Wabash.
Chesapeake &fOhio.
Call Him s'Kaiser BILL"
This will be a fight for liberty and
democracy against the autocracy of
Kaiser Bill Lee, president of the
brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,"
declared w. J. frost, general organ
izer of the Switchmen's Union of
North America.
The brotherhood has been trying to
exact an agreement with the railroads
that would virtually give the brother
hood a voice in the hiring and rein
statement of members of the Switch
mems Union of North America, &C.
| 10 the Stdl0Lu0Ilt VI Tic
ayers conference committee of the
| railroads affected.
The statement says the brother
hoods demands in part are:
"Yardmen discharged can only be
reinstated by mutual agreement be-
tween officers of the company and
the properly authorized COMMITTEES
representing Them.
Would Pass on Employees.
The railroad managers comment
| follows:
ION a road having a contract with
the Brotherhood of Railway Train
, men, the committee of this organiza-
ton would be the only one represent
ing the men. Therefore, if a nom
union man or a member of the switch
| anrnts Oh h1 c,r-..ioc