Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-06
Premature Strike
 of Railway ShopTnen
National Industry Threatened Because Equipment Cannot Be Kept Usable.

Washington, Aug. 5.-The threat of a railroad strike continues to spread throughout the country despite the efforts of the organized labor heads to hold the men in check until authorita- tive and official strike votes can be taken.
 their tools in premature strike, it was reported, were threatening national in duStry because without them the rail- roads equipment cannot be kept in usable order at the most necessary of all times-crop moving season.
 Above that hovered the threat of an even more serious labor situat ton. the demand of all the organized railroad ness be overhauled to retire private capital and create new partite con- trol.
 Reports began coming in today say ing that unless railroad equipment can be kept in running order mills, mines and factories will be threatened with closing. It was reported that there are more than 100000 cars now out of commission.
 Formal announcement was made to- night of the final tabulations in the referendum conducted among business men by the chamber of commerce of the United States on the question of government ownership of railroads. More than 99 per cent. of the vote, the official announcement said, was against it.
 Meanwhile threats of hundreds of thousands of railroad employees to go on strike toforce higher wages to meet the high cost of living were reiterated From many parts of the country to- day came reports that striking shop men refused to return to work, despite the fact that their action was de- nounced as illegal by the executive council of the six shop crafts. Strike ballots were mailed from the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, for taking an +l.> shopmen shall walk out to obtain their demands and express their disapprov- al of President Wilson's reference to the railroad wage question to con- gross. Demands also are being made by 456, 900 clerks, freight handlers and station employees. Director Hines was to have discussed their problems to- day with J. J. Forester, grand presi- dent of the union. but other. business interfered and the conference will be held tomorrow.
 Announcement of the vote of 99 per cent. of the business men against gov erinment ownership was accompanied by a statement of their views
 It is contended among other things that politics would enter into the op- eration of the railroads under the tri- partite plan to their detriment and that financial difficulties would be en- countered
 The senate commerce committee re- ferred to a sub committee the. ques- tion whether an investigation should be made of the new wage demands. This sub committee will report tomor- row. Director General Hines was the object of, attacks by Senators Kellogg and Pomerene. who argued that he should make the decision as to in- creases in wages. MT. Pomerene and Senator Cummins asserted the pres ident and Mir. Hines had ample au- thority to settle the present crisis without reference to congress.
 Criticism of the employees for their demands came from Senator Smith of Georgia, who declared there was in wages, and from Sen ator Thomas, of Colorado, who assert ed the strike threats of the employ es was only short of treason
 formal statement is expected to- morrow from the senate interstate commerce committee, replying to let ters to Chairman Cummins from Pres ident Wilson and Mir. Hines request ing legislation to establish a wage board. The statement, it, is under stood will advise the president that in the committees opinion such leg lation is unnecessary and that the committee believes he and the direc- tor general have all powers neces- sary to fix wages and rates.