The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-04-12
Origin of Strike
Personal Grudge
of John Grunau
fBy UNIVERSAL sERv1CE)

Chicago, April 1.-THE story of the
origin of the switehmens strike,
which spread from Chicago to every
part OF the country was told today
by A. F. whitney. Mr.. Whitney is
vice president of the Brotherhood of
Railway trainmen. He charged that
the real fight being waged b. the
insurgents" is to break UP the old
established railroad unions. The men
Hooked 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 bounds in the high cost of
living The men saw prices still
climbing and they were desperate.
The unrest, instead of abating, had
been growing"
This was the situation when John
Grunau, the 'Trotsky of the strike
appeared to lead the disaa tistied rail-
road men.
Mr. Grunau and others took ad~
vantage of this, a psychological. mo-
ment, il there ever was one, TO spring
the strike, which had for motive
selfish desire TO wreck the big
brotherhoods and suppiant 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 allegiance until the cost of
living had an opportunity to fail, &C
cording to Mr.. Whitney.
"Grunau served notice on me
December that if the brotherhoods
did not call strike of force the is
sue and bring about a settlement by
January first he would institute new
organiza ton 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 d
rs per cent. organization he would
have "A force strong enough 10 ssarve
the country or get the increase in
pay,
"tsrunau was a yard foreman or
switch conductor on q train running
into Chicago. About April 1st the
trainmaster added two coaches to the
train and surplanted Grunau with a
road conduetor-~-this, mind you. in
conformity with one of the rules OF
the brotherhood OF which he was a
member Between and 10 o'clock
in the morning Grunau appeared be-
.cre the general manager and said
unless he WIS reinstatea by ten U clock
strike would be called
The manager said ii 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 mana
ger and said he would give him until
l2:3C TO reinstate him. The men
went cut at 1880, the strike had
been called on two minutes notice on
a personal grievance by Grunau.
The very next day--April end
the press reports came out with the
trouble at Washington in the prelimi-
nary wasc committee appointed by
tho 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 brotherhuods we're pushing
wage advance in the only legal way.
through the instrumentalitios 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 war
awards affecting yardmen and train
men we're nade retroactive. 's4e1 'Fas''a~'
Business Women Meet