The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-11-26
RAIL STRIKE IS
DENIED BY LEE
RADICALS TRY TO
FORCE LEADERS HANDS
Kansas City Trainmen Threat
en- To Go Out On Unauthor-
lied Strike

CHICAGO, Nov. 25.--Rcports that
national leaders of the four railway
brothcrhoods in session at Cleveland
were holding secret discussions as TO
whether a strike Of railway workers IN
the United States should be called by
! December l and which gained wide cir
culation and considerable credence IN
Chicago railway union circles were DC
nicd tonight by W. G. Lee president or
the brotherhood of Railway Trainmen'
and by Timothy Shea, acting president
Of the Brotherhood Of Fircmcn and En-
gincmen. President Lee. however. ad-
mitted having received Il telegram from
the Kansas City local saying that the
trainmcn and yardmen there had decided
to strike tomorrow, and that he had
warned them that II they thought they
were bigger than the United States
! government" he had no advice 10 give
them.
/ knowledge Of the Kansas City situ-
alton and Of similar pressure from other
| locals, is what gave impetus TO the re-
ports which spread SO rapidly here to-
night.
No STRIKE Order Yet
Tho union officials in Chicago, from
whom the information was obtained that
| so far as they were aware the secret con-
| rrrcncc in Cleveland had not yet reach
| ed the point where resolutions or mo-
! tion for the strike actually had peeh
presented but that the discussion con-
, concerning it today, according 10 theiF
! information. was favorable 10 lhe
, project and that the tic-up could De cA-
! pected within three days. A similar an
nounccmcnt was made late today al inc
! convention Of the ncwly-organizeo laoor
party.
Buffalo. Detroit. Pittsburgh and 81
Louis were declared TO have oeen among
the cities whose locals were particular
iv insistent that a strike be called In
view of recent governmental statements
70 tho effect that general advances in the
,, nav of railway workers could not be con-
sidered at this time. The fourteen
locals Of Chicago railway men, 1t was
! had voted unanimously in favor OF the
| strike and that n resolution asking Tor
! s,rike decision had been sent TO w. U.
Ice. prcsident of the brotherhood OF
| Railway Trainmen.
! For General Increase.
The main demand OF the rali"ay inei,
no ro,ortcd nv union men here is that or
| - General increase, independent or all
| over,imr questions. in the rate or pay
/ tnr Grcmcn. enGinemcn and trainmen'
| I, ,,.os said that n quick strike would DC
| irstiiablc because the situation pro-
| duccd by the mounting cost OF liflns anu
! that of loss of time during when 1he
| railway mems demands had oecn pciofe
! the railroad administration made '-uh.
7 necessary the enforcement or the lhiFty
doy nnticc rule which normally wouio
] prcccdc a strike. ia.
I:nion officials who discussed the STU
| alton tonight insisted that their names
| no withheld from publication in conncc-
| tion with the information they gave
] Ecor of a possible restraining orucr az
rcc,ed at them in event or strlke' WAS
soid n be the reason. and that IN con-
rnction T. was stated by the same oIn-
oIols ,bot the higher officials OF the or
ranIzation most probably would dch'
| nositiyc knowledge Of the SITUATION.
| T, was said that the secret confer enIe
| would he in session tomorrow. ou' tnat
,hrro was every assurance that nothih6
| - concrete nature would come lEo'''
| 49,, dierussions for at least three Gays.
In some union quarters II was Sta'c',
.b.t the real reason why the ha'l"nd'
! oric;ols IN Cleveland hrSitaicd 10 hi1hc
IN announcement Of the strike or To DC
/ ri,ced IN the position Of directing inc
rrrroscd strik" cali was their lcar Oh
strike injunctlons and that IL was 'heii
! nurrnsr To- await the crisis whlch was
| rxn,ctcd from IN" action oil Inc RUM
and tilc of railway union men.