Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16
ORIGIN OF STRIKE
AN OLD GRUDCE
Switchmens Tieup of Railroads
Not Due Altogether to De-
mand for Higher Wages,
Says BrOtherhOods Chief.

Chicago, April 1.-THE story of
the origin of the switchmen's strike,
which spread from Chicago to every
part of the country was told by A.
F. Whitney. Mr.. Whitney is vice
president of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way trainmen. He charged that the
real fight being waged by the "in-
surgents" is to break up the old
established railway unions. Tho men
flocked to the new standard because
they were disappointed when prom
ises Of the railroads and the govern
ment were not fulfilled
"The strike was made possible be-
cause the federal government al
lowed profiteers to boost the price of
food, clothing and rents, and wages
were unable to keep pace with the
leaps and bounls in the high cost of
living. The men saw prices still
climbing and they were desperate.
The unrest, instead of abating, had
ben growing.
This was the situation when John.
Grunau, the "Trotsky of the strike"
appeared to lead the dissatisfied rail
road men.
"Mr. Grunau and others took ad-
vantage of this. psychological mo-
mcnt, if there ever was one, to spring
the strike, which had for motive
selfish desire to wreck the big
brotherhoods and supplant them by
the one big union scheme, which
years ago failed on the railroads"
The agitation was started by Cru
nau last October when President
Wilson appealed to the railroad men
to hold their demands for higher
wages in abeyance until the cost of
living had an opportunity to fall, nc
cording to Mr.. Whitney.
"Grunau served notice on men
December that if the brotherhoods
did not call strike of force the is
sue and bring about n settlement by
january first he would institute new
organization and would try to wreck
the brotherhood. He started to or
ganize January 3rd on the Chicago
Milwaukee and St. Paul road on which
he worked. He said the brotherhoods
had not brought him the bacon and
that if the boys would give him a
70 per cent organization he would
have II force strong enough to starvc
the country or get the increase in
pay:
"Grunnu was yard foreman or
switch conductor OH n train running
into Chicago. About April 1st the
trainmaster added two coaches to the
train and supplanted Granua with n
road conductor-this, mind YOU. in
conformity with one of the rules of
the brotherhood of which he was n
member. Between and 10 o'clock
in the morning Granua apparel be-
fore the general manager and said
unless he was reinstatcd by 10 O'Clock
a strike would be called.
The manager said it was short
time and asked until $3.50 to have
the committee of trainmen pass on
the case. Grunau agreed. But at 1928
he called on the general manager and
said he would give him until 1890
to- reinstate him. The men went out
at 1890, the strike had been called
on two minutes notice on personal
grievance by Granau.
The very next day-Apri 2nd-l
the press reports came out with the
trouble at Washington in the prelimi-
nary wage committee appointed by
the president-the managers took the
ground they would not deal with any
wage matters that might mean rate
insurance unless the public was rep
resented. This played right into Cru
nau's hands.
"The brothcrhoods were pushing
wage advance in the only legal way,
through the instrumentalitics set by
the new railroad act and we filed
them with claim making them re-
troactive to July first, 1919. The pre-
cedent established during the war was
for retroactive awards. All wa
awards affecting yardmen and train
men were made retroactive"