The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-04-07
RAIL STRIKES
SPREADING AS
UNIONS FIGHT
Walkout of $500 Men
Threatens Tie-up of Freight
in Entire Chicago Area, as
Unions Denounce Outlaws.
ORDERS ARE DISOBEYED
(By Associated Press(

CHICAGO, April 7-Representa-
tives of $500 members of the brother
hood of locomotive firemen and engi-
neers employed in the Chicago switch
ing district today had defied their
union officials and voted to join the
unauthorized switchmen's strike call
ed nearly a week ago.
Freight traffic through the expan-
: sive Chicago district already was re-
stricted seriously and strike leaders
and railroal officials were agreed
that If the force of strikers was aug
mented such traffic would be brought
virtually to a standstill.
The vote of the engineers and fire
men came in the face of predictions
of grand officers of the brotherhood
of railway trainmen and the SWITCH
mems union of North America, with
which the striking switchmen are al
filiated, that by Saturday the strike
would be broken by loyal union men
rushed here from other cities.
Loyal Men Called Scabs.
The engineers and firemen declar-
ed they would not work with "scabs"
as they termed the loyal union men.
Engineers are paid $5.76 day and
they demanded $3.50 an hour; the
firemen, paid from $416 to $4.2s a
day, demanded 81 an hour.
Passenger trains would not be IN
terfered with, the strikers sa1d. hall-
road officials said, however, that such
traffic was certain to suffer in the
event work in the yards was restricted
further.
Meanwhile it was reported supplies
of certain foods and fuel were begin
IN, Thico and near
lv 10000 employees had been thrown
out of work at the stock yards by the
stoppage of receipts of cattle. 1t was
stated that unless receipt of livestock
was resumed shortly, approximately
$4,000 men would be made idle. The
pens at the stock yards virtually were
empty yesterday.
Continue Under UItimatum
The switchmen continued their
strike under an ultimatum from the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
that they will forfeit their union mem
berships unless they return to work
by tomorrow night. They also would
lose their seniority standings with
the railroads. -- ss-
The Brotherhood's ultimatum was
signed by % Brotherhood officials, en-
bracing 20 chairmen of general com.
mitteeS or affecteu TdHroduS dAu
three vice-presidents.
The ultimatum sets forth that the
walkout had it's origin in the personal
grievance of John Grunau, leader OF
the insurgents" against the Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul railroad, the
first common carrier affected. The
strikers demanded increased wages
when they left their work.
RAnanadaS
w. G. Lee, president of the brother
hood, issued statement at Cleveland
yesterday, characterizing the strikers
as "renegades" and sanctioning any
measures found necessary by union
regulars" to restore normal coudi-
tions.
The strikers claimed early today
that 10000 men already were out in
the district, and that by night 25,00O
would be on strike. Railroad officials
while not denying the seriousness OF
the situation, said about $500 switch
men and yardmen were out. Office
clerks and superintendent Joined the
+ union strikebreakers in the yards
yesterday.
/ William L. Bond, treasurer Of the
switchmen's union, said 10 trunk lines
and five belt lines ''were paralyzed'
by the strike. Eighteen railroads were
affected to some extent, officials ad
mitted.
Switchmen's strike leaders early to-
day said delegates had been sent to
Milwaukee. Kansas City and other
cities to call strikes.
ST. LOUIS, April T. Switchmen
and yard engine men employed in ter
minals here and in East st. Louis, Ill.
met here today to form a new labor
union to be known as the Yardmen's
association. Organization would be
followed by demand for general
wage increase, those fostering the
movement said.