New-York tribune., 1919-11-26
Presidents Lee and Shea Saw
Say REPORT of Intention
to Walk Out December !
Is Without Foundation
Kansas Local Is Warned
Lee Refuses Advice if Mea
'Think They Are Bigger
Than the Covernment''

CHICAGO, Nov. 25-Reports that ma
tonal leaders of the four railway
orotherhoods in session at Cleveland
were holding secret discussions as to
"nether a strike Of railway workers
In the United States should be called
oy december l, and which gained wide
circulation and considerable credence
IN Chicago railway union circles, were
denied tonight by ". G. Lee, president
OF the brotherhood of Railway Train
men. and by Timothy Shea, acting
president of the Brotherhood of Fire
men and Enginemen.
PRESIDENT Lee, however, admitted
having received a Telegram from the
Kansas City. local saying that the
trainmen and yardmen there had de-
had warned them that if they thought
they were bigger than the United
States government" he had no advice
to give them.
knowledge of the Kansas City stu
alton and Of similar pressure from
other locals is what gave impetus to
the reports which spread so rapidly
here tonight
According to the story circulated
here national leaders of the four rail
way brotherhoods held a secret ses-
sion to-day in Cleveland, at which the
lnsistence of many local unions that
a general strike of all railway workers
in the United States be called by De-
cembe to enforce demands for gem
eral increase in pay was given serious
consideration. 1t was said by one union
official that many of the delegates
who are now in Cleveland went there
with the specific purpose of forcing
the general committee to call the
nationwide strike
Tie-Up in Three Days Predicted
The union officials in Chicago from
whom the information was obtained
stated that. so far as they were aware.
the conference in Cleveland had not
yet reached the point where resolutions
or motions for the strike actually had
been presented, but that the discussion
concerning it to-day. according to their
information, was favorable to the
project, and that the tie-up could be
expected within three days. A similar
announcement was made late to-day at
the convention Of the newly organized
Labor party here.
1t became known tonight that the
Kansas City local of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen had telegraphed
national officials of their organization
asking permission to call a strike of
trainmen and yardmen tomorrow. 1t
was reported that the national officers
replied in such way as to leave the
question entirely open and subject to
the decision of the local officials.
Five Cities Want Strike
Buffalo, Detroit. Pittsburgh and St.
Louis were declared to have been among
the cities whose locals were particularly
insistent that a strike be called in
view Of recent governmental statements
to the effect that general advances in
the pay of railway workers could not
be considered at this time. The four
teen locals of Chicago railway men, it
was said, had voted unanimously in
favor of the strike and resolution
asking for strike decision had been
sent to W G. Lee, president Of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
In some quarters it was stated that
the real reason why the national Of
ficials in Cleveland hesitated to make
an announcement of the strike or to be
placed in the position of directing the