Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-29
Charge That Strikers Violated Lever Act
Federal Grand Juries of New York and Newark Will Be
 Asked to Proceed Against
 the Railroad Strike Lead

New York, April 2S.-Indictments charging violation of the Lever act will be sought by the government against leaders of the railroad strike in the New York district, according to announcement issued tonight by Assistant United States Attorney Gen eral c. B. Ames at the close of in vestigation he has been conducting into transportation strikes here.
 Federal grand juries in New York and Newark will be asked to proceed against the strike leaders, MT. Ames said. He asserted that department of justice agents have fully established the identi- ty of these leaders.
 Joseph L. Bodine, assistant United States attorney for New Jersey, who was present when MT. Ames made his announcement, said the New Jersey fed eral grand jury is in session and ready to take immediate action.
 None of the railroad strikers was summoned by the. government investigat- ors,. it was stated. MT. Ames said he was convinced that neither the Brother hoods of Railroad Employees nor the American Federation of Labor had been involved in the strike.
 'The outlaw railroad strike situation seems to be improving steadily MT. Anes said, "and I do not think requires attention further than possible punish ment for the violation of law"
 MT. Ames investigated the strike of coastwise longshoremen and or harbor workers and the charge of certain com | mercial interests that there is a com hination of truclmen and fish handlers l to boycott fish caught and consigned by l non-union fishermen. Conference with the commercial interests affected by the various strikes and with representatives 1 of the strikers and their employers, were 1 held by MT. Ames.
 l A statement covering the scope of the
 investigation was issued tonight by MT
 Anles. Concerning the longshoremen, his l statement said: q believe that the sit
 nation is possible of adjustment withou 1 legal proceeding by the department O. l justice and that an adjustment is fal better than any legal remedy that may be applied. Therefore, before reaching 7 any conclusion as to the course 'whicl
 the department of justice should pur sue, have requested the representative 1 of the Merchants Association, tn
 Chamber of Commerce of the state o j New York, and the other chambers 0
 commerce with whom we have been il
 conference, to select a committee of rep
 resentative citizens to make final ef
 fort to settle the matter fairly to all in
 terests concerned.
 He expressed the belief that such , committee can reach conclusion whic i, can be accepted. Further action of tn
 department of justice, he said. will de pend upon the outcome of the negotis 2 tions. es Sd s4- Tt was the duty of, the men to re f sore to the legal and orderly processt 2 tsst--NR.--l1y the law to adjust their dii ferences," the statement says, in dis ,, cussing the strike of the marine worker Fl This they did not do, ,, it continue 3 ''and therefore the strike cannot be 'ju. l tifed If the claims of thef men al g true, they could have been presented 1 7 the companies and thence to the boar l provided by law The men therefore. V
 think, were not justified in this strik = and are not entitled, to any relief excej : that provided by the transportation act Mir. Aines' statement said that h a time had not permitted a personal il
 vestigation of the charge that truckme
 and fish handlers had formed cor
 bination to boycott fish caught and col s signed by non-union fishermen but tn
 further consideration will be given it.