New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-17
Freight Starts Moving on
Many Lines, While
Food Stocks on Hand
Reach New Low Level
Rail Ultimatum
Expires To-day
BrotherhOods Make Plea
for Members Return;
End Seen in Baltimore

1Talnmen, yarQmen ana all other
employees of the Pennsylvania, the
Reading and the Baltimore & Ohio
railroads in the Philadelphia dis
trlct who are on strike were or
dered late last night to resume
work at once.
The order was issued in Philadel-
phia by representatives of the
strikers at the conclusion Of con-
ference with William J. Tracy,
chief of the Pennsylvania State Bu-
reau of Mediation, and officials of
the railroads.
According to a statement issued
by the committee representing the
men who walked out, the strike set
tlement will be effective from
Washington to Boston, and will in
clude all roads entering Jersey
City, New York and Long Island.
The basis on which the men re-
turn to work is that they retain all
rights Of seniority and that there
will be no discrimination or preju-
dice against them.
At the authorization of John C. Bell,
chairman; Eugene Magee, L. w. Gattins
and George F. A. Koehl, representing
the strikers on the Pennsylvania, Phila-
delphia & Reading and Baltimore &
Ohio railroads In the Philadelphia dis
trict, Mr.. Tracy gave out the follow
ing statement:
Men Requested to Return
AT conference tonight the follow
ing decision was made:
That the men now working on all
systems in the East in the territory
covered from Boston to Washington are
requested to return to work immedi-
ately
This decision was reached after sat
isfactory arrangements had been made
with c. S. Krick, general manager of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
and S. Ennes, general manager of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, for the
return of the men to work with full
rights of seniority and without dis
elimination or prejudice.
"The written offer of Mr.. Krick fol-
lows:
lin reply to your inquiry as TO
the attitude of the Pennsylvania Rail
road with reference to the men who
are not working and who have refused
duty, in the event that they return to
their former positions:
Employees Will Not Lose Rights
"'Permit me to say that such en-
ployees shall be taken back into the
service without loss of former
seniority rights and without discrim-
ination or prejudice against them, pro-
vided they return Immediately.
The committee agreed to request the
men not working on the Philadelphia
& Reading Railway to also return to
work.
The committee representing the men
on strike here announced that com
mittee of five will leave for Washing
ton to-day and lay their wage de
mands before the Railroad Labor
Board
Approximately 100 of the terminals
1000 switchmen had returned tonight
and it was said nearly 300 cars had
been moved yesterday.
The ultimatum of the railroads that
the men must report for duty by noon
day, under penalty of losing their
seniority rights, all but demoralized
the little band of bitter-enders that
gathered yesterday at their meeting
place in Jersey City Disguised with
the delay and promises of their lead1
ers, more than a hundred strikers
bolted the meeting and announced
they were going back to work.
They were followed shortly by
others, and from other strike centers
came reports that the so-called "out
laws" were breaking ranks rapidly and
returning to their jobs.
NorunaI Crhod,ra pasr-od
That this was a ract was evident
from the situation at the railroad ter
minals, where trains were coming and
going on schedules as though nothing
had happened. Most of the lines re-
ported that not only were their pas
senger trains running on their old
time schedules, but that hundreds OF
men were floating back to the freight
yards, where there has been little
activity since the walk-out
The strike in Baltimore apparently
came to an abrupt end last night when
railroad officials of the Baltimore 4
Ohio and Pennsylvania said the men
would return to work to-day.
Railroad officials say, however. that
the freight situation is still serious.
and that it will be some time before
normal freight traffic will be resumed.
The day was a banner day for the
indignation specials" more than forty
five of which carried 10000 commuters
over the lines of the Erie, Lackawanne
and Long Island railroads
That the government agencies were
not going to rest content with the
efforts of the railroad managers them
selves to restore normal service was
evident from the activities of agents
Of the Department Of Justice, who are
said to have made arrests at Port
Jervis and other points for inter
ference with the United States mails.
U. S. Grand Jury to Meet
The details of the origin and causea
OF the walk-outs. particularly in New