The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-17

the answer OF the brotherhood cnleTS
to assertions made by union men in
various parts of the country that it
would be necessary to take another
strike vote before summary action
could be taken. No other vote, they
asserted, will be necessary.
Washington, March 15.-The White
House was informed through members
of the railway brotherhoods that no au-
thority to call nationwide strike is
now possessed by the chiefs of their
organizations. These men say that
the authority extended last summer
has expired and that a new vote would
have to be taken before a walkout
could be ordered and that this has not
been done despite assertions to the
contrary. Officials were unable to con-
| firm these statements, but received
them with interest
! Meantime a complete report of the
situation was laid before President
| Wilson by Secretary of Labor Wilson.
/ The president is alill determined to
/ &c laEs atnles Ee prevent the threat
iSssR ii lSiaiiE Of asstieaa Ire
has ii. carefully concealed.
Scene of Action Transferred.
New York, March 15.-The scene of
action in the threatened nationwide
strike of railway employees was trans
ferred from Washington to New York.
| Arrangements have been completed for
several meetings here and several
members of the national conference
committee of the railroads have ar
rived.
That the railroad managers will
make no concessions to avoid a strike
was declared on high authority. AT
any rate, it is certain that re
! CARELESS of the outcome of the confer
ence, both sides are busily completing
preparation for a general walkout OF
| operatives Saturday night.
These plans on the part ofsthe rail
way managements are declared to be
so complete that they expect little OIL
no interference with their freight and
| passenger traffic.
/ Union Leaders Confident.
On the other hand, spokesman fol
the 100000 employees of the freight
and passenger services Of the coun
! trys trunk lines assert the tieup, i
ordered will be as complete as theil
instructions call for.
| Officials for some of the Eastern
railway systems assert they have beer
assured only portion of their mel
will go out. According to these Off
Gals detection in the ranks of thu
employees may amount to so per cen
4 or more of the total union strength.
If the strike comes with full eff
fectiveness, then the railway head
will look to President Wilson for aid
They will expect President Wilson
to take drastic action in view of thu
. present rush of preparedness.
4 Elisha Lee, chairman of the confer
ence committee, said the attitude o
, the railroads had not been changed
by the new. threat of the unions t
strike. He said he would have NJ
further announcement to make unit
after a conference with the railwa,
brotherhoods. The shop chairmel
were to meet. Tt is expected that the,
will ratify the general strike scheme
Protest Their Loyalty.
A statement issued by the chief
of the brotherhoods before leavin
! Washington denounced as absurd al
insinuations to the effect that trans
portation employees are not loyal Cit
zens because of their attempt at sthi
time to secure from their employer
the benefits contemplated by the law,
and said that the railroad men ha
! given to President Wilson assurance
of their willingness and intention t
support the country should war be dc
clared.