Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-02
CLAIM EVERY
ROAD WILL Be
e - ~ u N@ SB @A~ @I
v
hit J BY NIGHT
General Walkout Threat
ems Tieup of Nations
Railway Systems.

Chicago. Aug. 2.-Leaders of the
Federated Railway Shopmen's un-
ion today predicted that the strike
which started yesterday would
spread and become the nationwide
movement that it was expected to
be when it was called. At present
the strike is for the most part con-
sf7ed to points in the midwest and
Nt1thwest
"a the middle west some thirty
thousand men were reported out,
with a like number in the south
and southeast sections. Those af-
fected are car repairers, inspectors,
machinists, electricians, black
smiths and sheet metal workers.
They demand wage increase from
the present scale of 68 cents an
hour to IS cents, with so cents an
hour for helpers, and that the in
crease be effective from Jan. l,
1919.
All Affected by Night.
Every railroad system in the
country will be affected by night"
said John D. Saunders. secretary
of the council directing the Chi
cago strike situation. "The strike
was ordered as a protest against
the many delays in our demands.
Negotiations in Washington have
been without avail. We will make
a clean sweep of every road in the
country"
International officers of the six
federated shopmen are in Wash
ington, now comforting with d. w.
Hines, director-general of railroads.
It is asserted the men on strike.
struck against the instructions of
these officers. Advices from Wash
ington said the railroad admins
tration officials expected the inter
national officers to settle the strike,
under an agreement that was
reached between Director-General
Zines and these officers, concern
ing working conditions and wage
demands.
VIII Stand on Demands.
Leaders of railway shopmen's
union declared today that the men
would not. return to work until
their demands had been granted.
Reports received at union head
quarters showed the strike to be
spreading to nearly every section
of the United States. 1t is pre-
dicted by Monday this strike will
embrace the entire country.
Go Out At Decatur.
Decatur, Ill, Aug. 2.-AIl shop
men at the Wabash shops went on
strike here at o'clock this morn
ing. It is estimated that between
1900 and 1900 men are out.
The local Wabash shops serve
the Decatur division of the Wabash,
the heart of the system between
Chicago and St Louis and between
Detroit and St. Louis. and is the
terminal of the main line to Kan
sas City
Vote To Strike.
Bloomington, Aug. AFTER an
all-day session yesterday and a
short conference this morning. the
federal committee of the Chicago
and Alton shops voted to strike. as
a sequel to the demands for higher
wages, made several weeks ago
AS a result 1000 men walked out
at 9 o'clock this morning, includ-
ing machinists. boilermakers, |
SIedulUIL6TSs D4dChSiuIIuS, 0LSCIEl-
clans, car workers, cabinet work
ers, coach carpenters, round house
employees. yard laborers, painters, !
in fact all departments except the |
transportation and maintenance of
way departments.
Iowa ShOpmen Quit.
Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 2.-Ap-
seven hundred railway |
shopmen in the Rock Island yards |
at Valley junction, near here, went /
on strike today in response to the |
call for a nationwide strike.
Quit at Springfield.
Springfield, Ill, Aug. 2.-Seven-
ty-five machinists and machinists' /
helpers. comprising the entire f,
force at the Wabash repair shops |
here. went on strike this morning |
in support of the general walkout-