The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-18
Railway Conditions Through.
out Country Are Gradually
Becoming Normal.
MANY MEN STILL OUT
Chicago Yardmen's Association
Reiterates Demands-Ulti-
matum Expires Today.

Although many railway switchmen
and yardmen are stin out in various
sections of the north and east. con-
ditions on the railroads yesterday
were generally improved and reports
from the chief strike centers indicate
the unauthorized walk-out is definite
ly broken
Railroad executives and brotherhood
leaders in Chicago announced last
night that hundreds of men are re-
turning to work and said that a
speedy return to normal was expected
Engineers of the Lackawanna rail-
road, who joined the outlaw strike"
OF switchmen and yardmen at New
York, voted last night to return to
work Immediately. Other New York
locals hurriedly called meetings to
vote on giving up the fight and to
take advantage of the provisions of the
railroad managers ultimatum which
expires at noon today.
Traffic on the countrys main arter-
les of transportation was far nearer
normal last night than at any time
since the strike began. Conditions on
the railroads entering Philadelphia
We're greatly improved, the strikers
voting TO return at once on assurance
that there would be no discrimination.
Switchmen employed by the Florida
East Coast railway in the South Jack
sonvilie yards agreed yesterday to re-
turn to work and to await findings
of the Federal Railway Labor Board
Although there has been general inn
provement in the transportation sit
uation freight movement through the,
southeast is stin demoralized and il
will be week or ten days before con-
gestion is sufficiently relieved TO per-
init normal shipments
Recognition of the Chicago yard
mems Association as the governing
body of railway switchmen and yard
men was added to the demands of
strikers in the Chicago terminal dis
trict yesterday at meeting of Off
GERS of the outlaw union.'
New York. April 17.-Railroads re-
ported strikers began returning in
small groups to their posts at noon to-
day, the expiration of the railroad
managers ultimatum. threatening to
open their books for a period OF twen-
ty-four hours for men seeking re-
employment and reserving the right
to refuse to reinstate strikers CON
sidered to have proved unfit for fur
ther service"
The executive committee of the
strikers characterized these reports as
utterly false" and in a statement is
sued in Jersey City, where the strikers
were meeting, declared the men would
not returns without a genuine assur-
anee of increase in pay"
All roads excepting the New York,
New Haven and Hartford, announced
men were returning and passenger ser
vice was approaching normal
New York, April 2s.-RaiIroad fire.
men and enginemen in the Metropolis
tan district voted in mass meeting to-
night not to return to work irrespec-
tive Of the action of other railroad
employees, until certain conditions are
met. It was said this condition was
that Of wage increase.
Cleveland, o., April II. - President
O'Rourke of the Cleveland Yardmen's
on learning tonight of a
strike here of passenger train switch
men at the Union Station ordered the
men to return Immediately. He said
IL was not the purpose of the associ-
alton to interfere with the handling
Of mail or passenger traffic. All but
one of the crew returned.
Chicago. April 17.-Hope for immed-
ate settlement of the rail strike here
today apparently was definitely lost
at noon today when the Grand Lodge
officers, directors and trustees of the
OUTLAW" union reiterated their orig
nal demands and added new ones 10
the list.
It was reported when the leaders OF
the insurgent organization went into
session that they were planning to ad-
wise their men to return to work.
At the close Of the session John
Irunau, president of the Chicago yard
mems association, which called the
first strike here, issued the following
statement:
AT a meeting of grand lodge Of
Ulcers, board of directors and board
Of trustees of the Chicago yardmen's
at 10 a. m. it was unani-
decided that the original de-
nands of the c. Y A presented to
The general managers association
shall stand. Also that as far as
switchmen and switch tenders are con-
we must be recognized as the
governing body. Also that there shall
De no discrimination against. any men
Who have Withdrawn from the service
3f the various railroad companies and
hey must be restored to their former
rank.
tSigned) JOHN CRUNAU-