Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-12
BROTHERHOOD OFFICER
TELLS HOW STRIKE BEGAN
Charges Men Flockcd to New
T. Standard Because Promises
Were Not Fulfilled.
IBy Universal Servicc.l

: CHICAGO. kT.:; 1.-THE story OF
The origin OF the switchmen's strike,
which spread from Chicago TO every
part or ;he country was told today
by \ +. Whitney. Mr.. Waitney is
Vice prcsiden; OF the brotherhood OF
Railway Trainmen. lie charged that
the real frh; being waged by the
insurgents" IS 10 break UP the old
established railroad unions. The
men locked 20 the new standard be-
cause they were disappointed when
promises OF The railroads and the
government We're not fulfilled
The strike was made poss'o.n be-
cause the Federal government allowed
pruHtcers 90 boost :.ic ur.C" OF fool
clothing and rents. and wages were
unable % keep pace with the leaps
in The hign cost OF living. The men
SAW prices stan climbing ana meg
were desperate. Thc unrest, Instead
OF abating had been growing.
This was the situation when John
Grunau. the ,Trotzky OF the strike"
appeared tc lead the dissatisfied rail-
road men.
Says II Is Plan t" Wreck.
"M-. GrGnau ana others ;ook adj
vantage o; ;h!s. psychological mo-
meni u there ever was one, to spring
the strike which had for motive a
selfish desire to wrck the big
brotherhoods and supplant them by
the one big union scheme. which years
aEo failed on The railroads"
The agitation was started by Gru-
naU las; october when President vii
SON appealed 30 the railroad men 20
hold their demands for higher wages
had an opportunity 20 fall, according
TO Mr. Whi;ney
"GrunaU served notice on mo To-
-CoTber that If the hroiherhoods did
not call strike or force the Issue
and bring ahou; settlement by Janu-
AIRY he would institute new or
Eanization and would try to wreck
the brotherhood. He started to or
ganizc on January o nthc Chicago,
Milwaukee ana st Paul road. on which
he worked. He said the brotherhoods
had not brought him the bacon and
:! That II tn. boys would give him a
- per cent organization lie would
have a force strong enough TO Starvc
the country OF &c; tho increase In
pay
. Was Yard Foreman.
'Grunau was yard foreman or
switch conductor on a train running
INTO Chicago. About April the
iralnmas;-r added two coaches to the
train and supplantcd Grunau witty a
road coniuctor-this, mind YOU. In
conformity with one % the rules OF
;he brotherhood o. which he was 4
member. Between s and 10 o'clock
In the morning Grunau appeared he
fore tn" general manager and sail
unless ne was rcinst:ttcd by 10 o'stocll
a strike would be called
tn" manager said II was short
time and asked until $3.50 to have
ne committees Of ;yainmen pass on
the caS". Grunau agreed But at
les h" called on the general mana
ger ana said he would give him un-
til 1880 10 rcins;ate him. The men
Went out a. l. 80. Tho strike had been
called OF TWO minutes notice on a
personal grievance by Grunau.
tidcd Grunnu's PInn.
The Very next day-Aprll .
the NrcSs reports came ont with tn,
troub!" at Washington In the prclirn.
mary wage committee appointed h,
IN" tFcs!dcnt-lhe managers took the
ground they would not deal with any
wage matters that might mean rate
increases unless the public was rcpre,
""nted This played right into Cru.
Dau's hands.
The broihcrhoods were pushing
wage advances In the only legal way
rih'"GEh the nstrumcntali;ics set NV
ne new railroad act and we fled
thrm win a claim making them re-
{. trodctivr 10 July !. 1919. The pre-
= .fe"'ht established during the war was
~ "' I''tnac'!Fe awards. Al! war
.::.aWafds affecting yardmen and train
. men were made rct.Oactivc"
.,Esiroactive awards All war ,yoras
s. AHee'!hs yardsmen and ,ra!nnlen wcrr
-