The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-08
FIFTY THOUSAND idle ASRESULT
OF STRIKE OFCHICACOSWITCHMEN
Held ILLEGAL BY UNION LEADERS
ReorganiZed BrOtherhoods Send
In Union Men to Break Up
Outlaw Organizations
FOOD SHORTAGE POSSIBLE
Packing Houses Forced to Close
Because Pens Are Empty
Trouble Is Spreading

StIihe OF railroad employees which was
started a week ago in the Chicago
switching district by the discharge of
"a yard conductor had spread tonight
until it had affected twenty-f five rail-
roads and thrown $4,000 men out of
work in Chicago either directly or
indirectly.
More than 10000 union railwaymen
of Chicago, and several hundred of
Buffalo and Champlain, Illinois, went
on strike. Many hundreds of men at
the Chicago packing houses are out of
work because of the lack of livestock
shipments.
In addition to the Chicago Yard
mems Association in which the engi-
neers are on strike, another OUTLAW
organiza ton called the National En-
ginemen's Association has been formed
and will seek members all over the
country to strike in sympathy Grand
Lodge officers of all established
brotherhoods are here and have
brought in union men as strikebreak-
ers.
Representatives Of $500 members
Of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers and Firemen employed in the
Chicago switching district today had
defied their union officials and voted
TO join the unauthorized switchmen's
strike.
: Freight traffic through the expan-
sive Chicago district already was re-
2 stricted seriously and strike leaders
and railroad officials were agreed that
il the force of strikers was augmented
such traffic would be brought virtually
to a standstill.
Passenger trains will not be inter
fered with lne strikers sad. teat-
vile II was reported supplies of GER
tain foodsAand fuel were beginning to
run low in Chicago and nearly $4,000
employees had been thrown out of
work. The pens at the yards virtually
were empty yesterday.
The switchmen o n i n e theiI
strike under an ultimatum from the
brotherhood of Railway Trainmer
that they will forfeit their union
memberships unless they return tc
work by tomorrow night. They would
also lose their seniority standings with
the railroads. The brotherhoods ul-
timatum was signed by % brother
hood officials, embracing twenty chair
men of general committees of affected
railroads and three vice presidents.
The strikers claimed early today
that that $4,000 men already were ou
i'm the district and that by night 25,-
600 would be on strike. Railroad Off
cials while not denying the seriousness
Of the situation, said about 1900
switchmen and yardmen were out. Of
flee clerks and superintendents Joined
the union strike breakers in the yards
yesterday.
n,
switchmens union, said nineteen trunl
lines and five belt lines were para
lived" by the strike. Eighteen rail
roads were affected to some exten
officials admitted.
.Switchmen's strike leaders early to-
dAy said delegations had been sent tt
Milwaukee. Kansas City and othel
cities to call strikes.
ST. Louis, April 7.-Switchmen ant
yhrd enginemen employed in terminal:
here and in East St. Louis. III. me
here today TO form a new labor unior
TO be known as the Yardmen's Asso-
citation. Organization would be fol
lowed by demand for general wage
increase, those fostering the movement
said.
More than 5000 yardmen were eligi-
hle for membership in the aSSocia tion
according to members of the organiza-
ton committee.
Cleveland, Ohio, April Wv. s. Car
TER president OF the Brotherhood o.
locomotive Firemen and EnginemeI
has received no official report early
today of members of his organization
Yoining the strike OF switchmen il
Chicago.
.sThe Firemen's Brotherhood ha:
four officers representing this organi'
cation in Chicago now Mr. Carter
said. and in addition thereto th'
chairman OF all our committees oi
railroads entering Chicago are con
vened there today.
$50 far as this organization is con
cerned the Chicago strike is illega
and will be treated as such"
Warren S. Stone, president of th'
brotherhood of Locomotive Engi
neers issued the following statemen
regarding the Chicago Switchment
strike:
sSThe strike of Chicago switchmen i:
illegal and will be so considered by tn,
Aengineers' brotherhood. This organi
Hation has two grand officers in Chi.
tcaEo now and has convened all gen
eral chairmen on all roads entering
Chicago TO meet there today with in
structions to notify all members Of ou
organization to continue at work an,
carry out all contracts