Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-09
FREIGHT TRAFFIC Al.
in CHICAGO IS 50
PER CENT NORMAL
Packers Declare There Will
Be Shortage of Meat For
Some Time.
Industrial Plants Declare
Thousands of Men May be
Forced Out Of Work.

Washington, April 9.-An investl-
cation Of the unauthorized strike of
switchmen and other railroad en-
ployes was ordered today by the sem
ateI
Without record vote the senate
adopted Senator McCormick's resolu-
ton directing the interstate COM
merce committee to inquire, respect
ing any existing strike of any inter
state railroad employees not conduct
ed or authorized by any recognized
organizations of railroad employees
and submit a report to the senate.
After receiving an appeal from W.
G. Lee, president, Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen, Representative
Cooper, Republican, Ohio today took
up with the department Of justice the
question Of whether the provisions of
present laws could be made operative
in the case Of the unauthorized strike
of trainmen and other railroad .enl-
ployes.
Chicago. April 9.-Continued spread
Of the insurgent strike of switchmen
and enginemen on railroads through
out the country was indicated by re-
ports today showing that more than
10000 men had Joined the walkouts.
Eight thousand insurgents were out
in the Chicago district, whore the
strike had its inception nine days ago,
and reports from a score of cities from
coast to coast in which walkouts have
occurred. predicted additions to the
strikers ranks during the day.
z, Running It's Course. ~. gtss.
Railroad brotherhood. officials who
have deAnMnced,the new '.rump". un-
T. ions; and appealed to loyal union men
to assist in breaking the strikes. de-
clared however, the walkout in the
Chicago district had reached its maxi
mum and despite the spread of the
j strike fever" to other cities insisted
the movement merely was running its
! natura~course. They predicted the
iChicago>strike would be broken with
In forty -eight hours and said with its
abatement the strikes in other parts
of the country would end.
Chairmen of the brotherhoods. an
! nounced there had beon an improve
| ment in the Chicago district and that
the men were slowly returning to
! work. They asserted that freight. .traf-
! fic was so per cent normal.
/! Although it was estimated that be-
i tween 10000 and 50,00o\ packing
A house and stockyards workers had
| been thrown out of employment to-
| day as the result of stoppage of cat
tie shipments, packers announced
that no shortage OF meat need be
! feared. .sS g
Many industrial plants i reported
thousands of employees would be
thrown out of work if the freight tie
up continued another week.
| Condition Today. e
A summary of conditions through
out the country reported carly today
follows: -.
Chicago. 5000 men on strike:
freight traffic estimated SO per cent
| Of normal.
/ Toledo, 1000 employees of 20 roads
idle. .5
st. Louis. 1000 men out; freigh,
traffic, virtually tied up.
Buffalo. 1000 men idle.
! Jersey City. 1000 yardmen and 9TH
ers workers out. 49, . seN
/ Los Angeles. l40O on strike.
| : Detroit. 1900 to 1,4OO idle
San Francisco. 443 men out.
Kansas City, 400 men on strike.
| Gary. Ind. $50 idle. go ,s
| Syracuse, $50 men out. -
/ Saginaw, Mich. 200 men, Pere Mar.
quette out. #o ~
!, Salt Lake, 215 men on strike tz
Ogden, $50 switchmen on strike,
Decatur, ILL.,, 107 men striking.
! Joliet, Ill, 50 out on four roads.
II Scranton. SO men idle.
Springfield, Ill. Baltimore and Ohio
! switchmen on strike
Niagara Falls, two roads affected
and traffic detoured. r.