The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-04
CHICAGO STRIKE
IS TO SPREAD
OVER COUNTRY
II Already Involves Two Hun
dred Fifty Thousand Men
RANKS ARE INCREASING
Federated Railway shopmen in Mum
ber of Railway Centers Are to
Ballot Today
RANKS ARE INCREASING

Chicago, Aug. 4.-The strike of
federated railway shopmen which en-
tered ius fourth day today, and al
ready has involved approximately
two hundred fifty thousand men,
will soon spread to every section Of
the country, according to local Off
cials of the union, unless demands
ard speedily met
The ranks of strikers were aug
mented by several thousand yester-
day. Many others voted to join to-
portant railway centers were to bal
lot during the day on the question of
going out.
Washington, Aug, 3.-The fight
which the railroad brotherhoods have
organized, in an effort to force
through Congress the adoption of GOV
ernment ownership OF the railway
systems, with the railroad employees
sharing in the profits, will be carried
10 the people, Warren S. Stone, Pres
ident of the Brotherhood of Engi-
neers, said tonight, and the consti-
tuents of Senators and Representa-
tives who oppose the proposed legis-
lation will be appealed to against
I'VE are going far enough to win
the fight and we are going to win"
Mr.. Stone said tonight, when asked
how far the railroad men were pre-
pared to go to put into effect the
threats which we're contained in yes
terday's statement, which accompani
ed the bill submitted TO the House by
Congressman Sims.
Within sixty days" he added.
Senator and Congressman will have
heard from at least 100000 of their
constituents and that will be only
the beginning. We are going to carry
this fight to all parts of the nation
and it may become the big PRESIDENT
al ISSUE
In the latter connection Mr.. Stone
said that in his mind 1t was not es-
sential that the lines be returned to
their former owners by Jan. 1, 1920,
as requested by President Wilson
and intimated that if the so-called
Plumb plan for Government owner
ship had not been forced through
Congress by that time every effort
would be made by organized labor
70 prevent the adoption of other legis
lation which called for the return of
the lines to their former owners be-
fore there had been an opportunity to
make the issue feature of the next
Presidential campaign
Two phrases in the statement is
sued yeIterday over the signatures
Of Mr.. Stone and other railroad broth
crhood Presidents, one to the effect
that the railroad men were in no
mood to brook the return of the lines
to their former owners and the other
that labor was determined that there
must be change, were brought to
Mr.. stones attention.
Il wonder if you realize" he said
''that such statements are not care.
lessly made public and that they are
sent out only after the most careful
confederation"
II am not sure" added Mr.. Stone,
that we have picked out the psyche
logical moment to introduce this
movement, but | think SO. There has
..ot to be change. If the railroads
were returned to their owners the ma
jority of them would be in the hands
of a receiver within sixty days and
this country would be experiencing
the worst panic in the history of the
nation.
81 do not like TO talk in sensational
terms, but we are walking on a very
thin crust" he continued when asked
about the danger of a nationwide
strike. "If there are TO be higher
wages under present conditions,
rates must go up, and that would
serve to keep up living costs. There
is point where the American people
will stand no more, and If prices go
much higher that point will be reach
ed But unless living costs are
brought down radically we must have
more wages. 1t is an endleis chain
and spells disaster. The adoption OF
our plan will provide the surest
method for bringing about rational
conditions
Mr.. Stone said that he had mention
ed the subject to President Wilson
and had asked for an interview later
after the President returned from his
proposed tour to the West coast. The
President, he said, had stated that he
would be glad to discuss the matter
with him.
1t is pretty generally believed now
that President Wilson will not go OF
his Western tour for some time, pei
haps not this year, because of the re
cent developments, and in that even
an early interview probably will b'
sought by Mr. Stone.