The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-14
.SHOPMEN FACE
EXPULSION
Must Obey Orders of Interna-
tionaI Officers or Suf-
fer Penalty.
C R ISIS IN WALK0UT
General Situation in Railroad
Strike Shows Little I'm
nrovem .
C r ISIS IN WALK0UT

Chicago, Aug. 14.-Faced with
threatened expulsion from the union,
striking railway shopmen must de-
eide today whether they will follow
the order of their international off,
GERS and return to work at once or
forfeit any benefits which may be
derived from prospective negotia-
tions. officials of the Chicago coun-
ellis of the rebellious workmen were
to present to the men at a meeting
called for this morning telegram
from B. M. Jewell, head of the shop
mems union. which read:
make orders positive to all points.
Now is the time to act. We cannot
much longer delay, and, If you refuse
to comply, will be compelled to ad-
wise Hines and Wilson, If necessary,
that you do not belong to the organ
ization. If negotiations are resumed
strikers will be deprived of benefits"
JEWELS Threat.
The threat from Jewell to expel
from the union shopmen who insist
on staying out followed the continued
disregarding of orders from the in
ternational leaders to return to work
pending negotiations in Washington
by the brotherhood councils of Chi
cago, the recognized hub" OF the
walkout. Local officials were of the
opinion that Jewelps threat brought
the walkout to a crisis Its success
or failure was to be decided, they
opined, at todays meeting.
In the meantime, freight was ac-
cumulating at Chicago terminals.
Most of this is destined for the west.
Foodstuffs and perishable freight, it
was stated, is being handled normally.
Passenger service is suffering, many
trains both in and out of Chicago
being delayed. ,..
The general situation, regional di
rectors reported, showed little i'm
provement. Twenty-six roads run
ming into Chicago reported that no
men had returned to work up 10 this
morning. Two roads. the Chicago &
Alton and the Baltimore & Ohio, re-
ported that their boilermakers had
voted to return to work. The Erie
reported fifty shopmen returning to
work at Hammond.
Depends on Vote.
Boston. Aug. 14.-Traffic conditions
on the New England railroads after
today will depend largely on the
count of ballots cast by mechanics
and shopmen who struck last Thurs
day and Friday for increased wages.
Boston d Maine strikers, who voted
early in the week, were said to on
pose going back until their griev
ances have been adjusted, but there
were indications that the New Haven
men favored the adoption of Presi
wilson's recommendation for an i'm
mediate return.
Atlanta, Aug. 14-kailroad sbonpe,,
an over the southern district are re-
turning to work today and it is said
that py nightfall practically every
southeastern railroad will have its full
complement of shopmen and affiliated
trades which have been on strike
With the shops crowded with renair
work, however, it is likely that a week
or more will elapse before normal con-
ditlons Will be reached again.
Ihe shop at High Springs, Fla.
Where the men were holding out to-
day; wired that they will return to
WORK In answer to an urgent message
seht 10 High Springs, asking them to
JOIN IN the general return today,
No cases have developed where the
railroads refused to take men back.
according to Mr.. Slappey, secretary of
the FEDERATED shipments craft of the
southeast. He said he had not had
time' however, to receive full reports
from dlI the shops.
several thousand striking railway
shopmen from all parts of the country
met here today to consider the oues-
tlon OF returning to work in accordance
with President Wilson's demand. A
definite policy in regard to the strike.
which was called Aug. /. in defiance of
.He orders OF the international officers
OF the union. is expected to be adopted
i" peiore the meeting adjourns. Local
leaders urged the strikers to stand Arm
and refuse to return to work, while in
ternational officials advised the men
70 call Off the strike and defer until
later the settlement of their demands
Ior higher wages. While the meeting
was IN session, 2S,000 striking car
workers in the Chicago district bee,on
taking a. referendum vote 10 decide
whether they will return to work.