Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-05
MORE Join IN
RAIL STRIKE.
DEFY CHIEFS.
Shopmen Disown Grand
Oficers-Other Crafts
Vote on Walkout.


ders, secretary of the Chicago dis
trict council of the Federated Rail-
way Shopmen's union, said this
morning that his organization had
refused to take the strike vote, or
I dered by the grand lodge officers.
/ I'VE will pay no attention to or
ders issued by the grand lodge,
said Secretary Saunders. mo
/ strike vote will be taken and we
will not return to work until in
creased wages have been granted.
Furthermore, we will refuse to ne
I gotiate for a settlement through
the grand lodge. If the government
wants to talk business with us, it
will have to come to US direct as
we will not be bound by any agree
ment made by the grand lodge Of
ficials.'
Strike Hurting Roads.
Officials declared that the effect
of the shopmens strike is being
felt by every railway in the west
and south. They say that these
roads are refusing to accept perish
able freights.
Reports received at union head
quarters were to the effect that
many locomotive engineers had re-
fused to take out trains because of
the bad condition of the rolling
stock. They predict that in a few
more days. traffic on many of the
roads will be tied up.
Prepare to Enforce Demands.
Having termed unsatisfactory the
proposal of President Wilson and
Director General Hines for a con-
gress created committee to investi-
gate wages and working conditions,
officials of railway shop crafts
through the mailing out of strike
ballots prepared to enforce their
demands for wage increases ap-
proximating 25 per cent. The bal
lots were to go to 100000 shop en-
ployes in the United States and
about ten thousand in Canada, some
of whom are on strike, refusing to
obey the instructions of the union
to await the results of the strike
vote on Aug. "a.
Oppose Hines Plan.
President Wilson was told of the
shop employees union representa-
tives in a conference late yester-
day, that railway employees were op-
posed to the proposal of Director
General Hines, transmitted to con-
gress by the president. Action by
congress in authorizing a special
body to consider wage questions,
the union officials held. would not
furnish the speedy relief made nee
essary by the rising cost of living.
Other Crafts May Join.
Demands of 100000 railway
clerks. freight handlers, express
and station employees that their
wages be increased unless some
thing was done to materially re-
duce the cost of living were con-
sidered today at a conference be-
tween Director General Hines and
J. J. Forester, grand president
brotherhood of these employees.
Similar demands from the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Engineers
and the Brotherhood 6 Railway
Trainmen, are before the director
general Meantime the 100000
shopmen over the country are for
mally voting on whether a strike
shall be called to enforce demands
made last January that their wages
be increased 25 per cent. Pending
the outcome of this vote the thou
sands of shOpmen already out on
an unauthorized strike were expect
ed bv union officials to return to
work.
1,5OO Quit at DanVille.
Danville, Ill, Aug. 5.-Fifteen
hundred shopmen of the Chicago &
Eastern Illinois railroad here went
on a strike at o'clock this morn
ing, after taking a vote on the
question of a strike last night.
Winona, Aug. 5.-Except the 80
fOremen all members of the six
unions at the Northwestern rail-
way shops here went out this morn
ing. About six hundred men are
out, and it is expected that four
hundred more on the Minnesota di- !
vision at Waseca, Tracy and New
Ulm will walk out during the day. |
The foremen here are waiting for |
as to whether foremen |
struck at other shops.
Out at indianapolis.
Indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 5.-The |
and locomotive inspec- |
tors employed at the Pan Handle ,
shops of the Pennsylvania railroad 1
here. Joined the shopmen's strike !
Today. Blacksmiths, boilermakers. |
ear repairmen and car inspectors |
remained at work.
Big Four shopmen, said to num-
Der $500. remained on strike this !
while the Cincinnati, In |,
and western shopmen
continued at work.