New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-17
Many Men Are Believed to
Have Opposed Authority
of Brotherhoods
Leaders Displeased
Look for at Least One Judas
in Every Twelve, w. L.
Lee Declares

Engineers, conductors \and hremen
who remained loyal TO their roads and
refused TO recognize the right Of the
brotherhoods TO call a strike at this
iuncture under the vote taken last
wear are believed 70 be responsible for
the delay in calling out the men OF
roads in the West, which is not to be
effected until Tuesday Dispatches
from Western points told Of whole
divisions which had resolved to ignore
the mandate of the union.
From the Atchison came word that
engineers on that system had wired
their chiefs declaring themselves out
of the eight-hour movement and noti-
flying them OF their intention TO re-
main at work. On the st. Louis q
Southwestern conductors took similar
action. and Gremen on the Illinois Cen
trail likewise announced their intention
OF remaining in their cabs.
Authority Is Questioned
Nearer home evidence accumulated
that the men on the Pennsylvania were
not anxious 20 strike. The authority
of the leaders TO issue such orders
without a vote was questioned. ] his
question Of authority was raised at
other points. All these developments
cave color 10 the claim repeatedly
made by the managers that a consid-
cradle percentage Of their men would
remain i'm line.
On top of this came assurances from
Chicago that the Switchmen's Union
of North America, the one organlza-
ton Of trainmen affiliated with the
American Federation OF Labor, would
stand by its contracts and refuse to
aid the Big Four, no matter what rec
ommendation Samuel Gompers, as
president Of the American Federation
Of Labor, might make.
This organization has contracts with
fourteen roads. including the Mlchl-
can Cestral. the Lackawanna. the Rock
Island. the New York Central and the
Baltimore & OhiO's connecting road IN
Chicago. This was an assurance that,
small though the membership OF TINS
organization is-it claims out l2.OOO
men-.hc Chicago and Buffalo yards,
soft spots in any strike, would at
least be partially manned.
brotherhood Leaders Displeased
The brotherhood leaders were plain
lv disDlcased with the fact That dis
affection i'm their ranks had become
generally known in so short a period
although they said the deserhons
would not be important.
Don't forget" said William ). Lee,
Cha history says our Saviour found
one Judas lscariot among the twelve
he elected; we. therefore. do not nope
TO beat his record. and we look Tor az
least one i'm twelve.
"Tho only sure way TO determine
whether our men are in earnest is 20
count noses Sunday and thereafter;
II am thoroughly i'm touch WIN inc
situation in the Eastern States, sara
l.. c. Grihing, vice-president OF me
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
"and ! have not heard any expression
Of discomfort against strike. II mere
were any ! should have heard OF mem.
Ont on the roads the card lndlceS OF
mon who had signifcd their intention
Of remaining loyal were taken out ana
the men canvasscd. As in the case or
the New YORK Central. appeals were
also posted TO the men 20 stand by inc
companies. and the reports received
here indicated that most OF the larger
roads would have fairly complete skele-
ton organizations TO work with at the
start.
"If," said one Of the managers leav-
inc the conference room, Eve can move
any trains and keep them moving, we
can beat any strike. The reports snow
that we can do IL.
There is TO doubt but we can wan
any strike. but at that we do not want
one. No sane man ever wants STRIKE
If he can avoid it. We would be very
clad to have the men reconsider their
decision Of yesterday
This manager and others leaving the
meeting made il clear. however, that
they were not prepared to make any
concessions pending decision by the
Supreme Court They held that in Of
fcring TO submit everything that may
be i'm dispute after the Supreme Court
had. made it's ruling to the Goethals
board they had gone the full limit