Arizona republican., 1919-11-26
GENERAL RAIL
STRIKE ORDER
DISCUSSION IS
CHICAGO RUMOR
Railroad Chiefs, in Session
at Cleveland, Deny
All Reports
Admit Unrest Grows
Leaders Confess Many Lo-
Gals Demand Increases
or Sudden Walkout
[RepubIiesn A. p. Leased w~el

national leaders of the four railway
brotherhoods in session at Cleveland
were holding secret discussions as to
whether a strike of railway workers
In the United States should be called
in December and which gained wide
circulation and considerable credence
n Chicago railway union circles, were
denied tonight by w. G. Lee, president
of the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men and Timothy Shea, acting presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Ffremen
and Enginemen. Mr.. Lee. however
admitted having received a telegram
rom the Kansas City local saying
that the trainmen and yardmen there
had decided to strike tomorrow and
that he had warned them that if they
thought they were bigger than the
United States government" he had no
advice to give them.
knowledge of the Kansas City situa-
lion and of similar pressure from other
ocals, is what gave impetus to the
-eports which spread so rapidly here
.onight.
Pledged to Force Strike Issue
1t was said by one union official
that many of the delegates who are
now in Cleveland went there with the
specific purpose of forcing the general
committee to call the nation wide
strike.
1t became known tonight that the
Kansas City local of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen had telegraphed
national officials of their organization
asking permission to call a strike of
trainmen and yardmen tomorrow. 1t
WAS reported that the national Off
GERS replied in such way as to leave
the question entirely open and subject
TO the decision Of local officials.
The union officials in Chicago, from
whom the information was obtained,
stated that so far as they were aware
the secret conference in Cleveland
had not yet reached the point where
resolutions or motions for the strike
actually had been presented. but that
the discussion concerning it today, ac-
cording to their information was
favorable to the project and that the
tie-up could be expected within three
days. A similar announcement was
made late today at the convention of
the newly organized labor party here.
Many Locals Demand Strike
Buffalo. Detroit. Pittsburg and st.
Louis were declared to have been
among the cities whose locals were
particularly insistent that strike be
called in view of recent governmental
statements to the effect that advances
TO railway workers could not be con-
sidered at this time. The fourteen
locals OF Chicago railway men. 1t is
said. had voted unanimously in favor
Of the strike and resolution asking
for a strike decision had been sent to
w. G. Lee, president Of the Brother
hood Of Railway Trainmen.
In some union quarters it was
stated tonight that the real reason
why the national officials now in
Cleveland hesitate to make an an
nouncement of the strike or to be
placed in the position of directing the
proposed strike call is their fear of
strike injunctions, and that it Is their
purpose to await the crisis which is
expected from the action Of the rank
and file of railway union men.
The main demand of the railway
men. as reported by union men here,
is that OF a general increase, inde-
pendent of all overtime questions, in
the rate of pay for firemen, engineers
and trainmen. II was said that a
quick strike would be justifiable be-
cause the situation produced by the
mounting cost Of living and the length
Of time during which the railway
mems demands had been before the
railroad administrator. made unneces-
sary the enforcement of the 30-day
notice rule which normally would pre-
cede a strike.
Union officials who discussed the
situation here tonight insisted that
their names be withheld from publica-
ton in connection with the informa-
tion they gave. Fear Of a possible re-
straining order directed at them in
event Of a strike was said to be the
reason, and in that connection it was
stated by the same officials that the
higher officials OF the organization
most probably would deny positive
knowledge OF the situation.
II was said that the secret confer
ence would continue in Cleveland to-
morrow, but there was every assur-
nnce that nothing OF concrete nature
would come from the discussions for
II least three days.
Await Convention Action
KANSAS CITY. Nrv. 25-lnforma =
ton obtained here tonight was that
the local trainilen's union had decided
10 await the action of the Cleveland
convention before striking. 1t was
intimated that in the event a national
railroad strike is called, the walkout
would begin in Kansas City and
spread to other railroad centers.
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