The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-04-13
CHICAGO SITUATION
SHOWS IMPROVEMENT

CHICAGO, April is-Maln strength
Of the striking railroad workers today
Was extended in the section east Of
Pittsburgh and in the Pacific North
west with conditions, according TO rail-.
roHd brotherhood leaders and. railway
IofficiRls, IN the remainder Uf the conn,
| &fy pointinA2 taMArd a return 70 n@rnlAl
around New York passenger seryics
was hard hit and In the Pennsylvnfite
steel and iron regions thousands Of
workers were threatened With enforced
ldleness unless the situation quickly
changed
IN New Jersey armed soldiers with
army motor trucks were called into
handle mail halted by the strlke.
Fresh difficulties were encountered
by the railroads IN the Pacific North
west, although reports from various
other sections Of the West Indicated
gradual Improvement Great Northern
and Northern Pacific switchmen at Ey-
erett Wash. walked out at midnight
last night and Northern Pacific yard
men at Spokane arranged "A meeting
today to decide on future action. Yard
employees OF the OreRon- Washington
Railroad & Navigation Co. and the Chi
cago. Milwaukee & st Paul IN that
district awaited action by lie North
ern Pacific men.
As epltomized by the brotherhood
leaders today the entire situation was:
West. vastly better; Chicago, much
improved; East, vastly worse partlcu-
larly New York. from the Ohio river
west to the coast. the brotherhood lead
ers said the strike was burning out"
In Chicago. where the strike started
two weeks ago, with "a walkout OF
switchmen on the Chicago Milwaukee
a ST. Paul railroad conditions were
sufficiently improved today TO permit
lifting by several railroads Of embar-
goes placed a week ago. Railroad Off
cials estimated 25 per cent more freight
was moved at Chicago yesterday than
on any other day since the strike
started.
At the Chicago stockyards. 246 cars
Of live stock were received yesterday
the largest volume OF more than a
sweek, and 10000 employees returned TO
work. approximately 3j,00O workers
still are idle, however.
only,'abopt 25 per cent Of Chicagos
normal coal supply is being received
but railroads announced that II the
situation became serious coal shipments
would be given preference. At Gary,
Ind, thousands OF steelworkers We're
idle and last night street lighting was
cut Off
Railroad managers reiterated today
their determination not TO treat with
the strikers who planned yesterday TO
present demGnds 10 the company rep
tesentatives Another order was issued
by officials Of the Brotherhood Switch
lll'H " tN'lAl NlhCllgsh, COMMANDING
strikers to return Immediately.
john Grunau, head OF the strikers
new union. maintained his claims that
the "nsurgent' forces remained intact
and would not yield,
A break came In the strike at ST
Louis when 32i Missouri Pacific switch
men voted 10 return Ia work TO-DAY
strikers az Pueblo Col, Muskogee.
Okla, Saginaw, Mich, Battle Creek,
Mich. Dayton, o., and several other
points also decided to end the walkout.
Frclght traffic continued badly i'm
paired at kansas city and railroad Of
fiCtals report little Improvement
At Detroit the effect OF the strike
becam" more serious and Approximately
50 600 factory workers were idle with
estimates that $4,000 workers iu other
Mich gan cities were thrown out OF
wUrk Detroit was lightless hast night
A. Cleveland the strike spread To
Coliuwood shops of the New York Cen
trail where 200 shupmeU walked out
and further menace was presented
in reports that shOpmen were planning
& city-wjdc wtil,out on Thursday
The columbus Nardmen's association
voted 10 call out all switching crews
handling passenger traffic
At Toledo "a number Of factories were
expected 10 close today and at Indian
apoljs a gas shortage was feared as tho
result OF cutting off OF fuel shipments.
At Terre Haute Ind 500 switchmeu
voted tn join the insurgents and the
strike spread to cincinnati when Blill-
more a ohio switchmen walked out last
night