Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-07
CHICAGO ENGINEERS
ANDF|REMENV VOTE
TO Join STRIKERS
Defy Union Officials in Favor
ina Unauthorized Action
of SWitchmen.
By the Associated Press.


By the Associated Press.
| CHICAGO, April 7.-Representattves
OF $500 members Of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemeeps ant sn-
gIneers employed in the Chicago
switching district today had defied
their union officials and voted to Join
the unauthorized switchmen's strike
called nearly weelr ago.
Freight traffic through the expan-
sive Chicago district already was re-
stricted seriously. and strike leaders
| II the force Of strikers was augment
ed such traffic would be brought Viz
| tually to a standstill.
The vote OF the engineers and Are
| men came in the face OF predictions
OF grand officers Of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen and the Switch
| mems Union Of North America. with
which the striking switchmen are
affiliated. that by Saturday the strike
| would be broken by loyal union men
rushed here from other cities.
The engineers and f1remen declared
they would not work with "scabs." az
| they termed the loyal union men. and
also demanded an increase in wages.
, Engineers are paid 1915 a day, and
they demanded $3.50 an hour: the fire.
demanded 81 an hour.
Passenger Tramc Threatened.
Passenger trains will not be inter-
fered with. the strikers said. Railroad
officials said. however, that such traf-
f1c was certain to suffer in the event
work in the yards was restricted
further.
Meanwhile it was reported supplies
Of certain foods and fuel were begin
| ming to run low in Chicago. and near
ly 10000 employees had been thrown
out Of work.
At the stockyards it was stated that
unless receipts Of live stock were
resumed shortly. approximately $4,000
men would be made idle. The pens at
the stockyards virtually were empty
yesterday.
The switchmen continued their
strike under an ultimatum from the
Brotherhood OF Railway Trainmen
that they will forfeit their union
membership unless they return to
work by tomorrow night. They also
would lose their seniority standings
with the railroads. The brotherhood's
ultimatum was signed by twenty
chairmen of general committees OF
affected railroads and three vice pres
idents.
The ultimatum sets forth that the
walkout had Its origin in the personal
grievance Of John Grunau. leader OF
the "insurgents," against the Chicago.
Milwaukee and st. Paul railroad. the
first common carrier affected. The
strikers demanded increased wages
when they left their work.
w. G. Lee, president OF the brother
hood. issued a statement at Cleveland
yesterday characterizing the strike rs
as "renegades." and sanctioning any
M a hxr
regulars" to restore normal condi-
tions.
Clerks Join Strikebreakers.
The strikers claimed early today
that 10000 men already were out in
the district and that by night $4,000
would be on strike. Railroad officials.
the situation. said about 1000 SWITCH
men and yardmen were out. once
clerks and superintendent Joined the
union strikebreakers in the yards yes
terday
william L. Bond. treasurer of the
switchmen's union, said nineteen
trunk lines and five belt lines were
paralyzed" by the strike. Eighteen
railroads were affected to some ex-
tent. officials admitted.
Switchmen's strike leaders early to-
day said DELEGATIONS had been sent to
|
cities to call strikes.
Buffalo Night Switchmen Out.
BUFFALO, N. Y, April Five hun
dred switchmen on the night shifts of
all railroads entering Buffalo. with
the exception of the Erie and Pennsyl-
vania lines. went on q strike last night
and this morning. virtually tying up
all freight in and out of the city I'D
to 1890 o'clock this morning the day
shifts had not reported and it Is be-
lieved the strike will be general.
F. j. Sheehan. president of the
Switchmen's Union, said the strike
was unauthorized. Railroad officials
expressed the belief that the move
ment was in sympathy with the Chi
cago strike.
The strike movement is said to have
started in the yards Of the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western railroad
last night when several switchmen
left their jobs.
The Lackawanna strikers went to
the Buffalo Creek railroad. an impor-
tant switching line along the water
front. and induced the switchmen there
to quit Later the strike spread to the
other yards.
Supt. Louis g. Emery of the New
York Central said the strikers refused
to meet with committeeman and no
one appeared able to explain why the
strike was called or what the men
were striking for.
Representatives from the Switch
mems. Union visited all the yards
this morning in an attempt to keep
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