Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-05
CHICAGO MAY CALL
TROOPS To CHECK
SW|TCHMEN STRIKE
Train Service, Impedcd by Snow,
is Hopelcssly Tangled by
Outlaw" Walkort.
UNION HEADS JOIN
r. r. TO END TIEUP
BY Associated Press 10 Every Evening


Chicago. April 5.--Train service
throughout the Chicago district, already
seriously crippled by heavy snowstorm,
virtually was dernoralized today by the
spread Of an unauthorized strike OF switch
men, according TO reports from the eleven
railroads affected.
Fearing possible riots, John J. Garrlty,
chief of police early today placed the
entire police force on reserve. FIVE nun
dred policemen patrolled the switch
yards last night he said
Mr.. Clarity said the situation was
serious and added that it may be neces-
sarv 20 call out the militia and declare
military control in the railroad yards.
Approximately $500 switchmen were
out al midnight. according to strike lead
ers, and the General Managers AssocIa-
ton, representing the railroads 1he
strikers asserted 1000 men would be al
I fected todsy and predicted complese
tie-up of freight traffic and serious I'M
| pairment OF interurban service.
After long conference with repre-
sentatives Of the Brotherhood OF Halfway
| Trsinmen with which the switchrnen are
| affiliated, and the Switchmens Union o.
| North America, the General Managers
Association issued q declaration that
J f6eFf RfHfI nt Uff apifFitAhtoC F'@eN
| the strikers.
dSixty per cent Of the switch engines IN
| Chicago arc out OF service, SAID tne
managers statement. This has been
| caused by an outlaw organization which
| has presented demands for rates OF pay
that already had been presented to the
railroad organizations by the Brother
| hood Of Railway Trainmen and the switch
mems Union OF North America.
| srThese demands are being handled oy
the wage conference at Washington and
must under the transportation act %
concluded before the labor board, yet e
he named by the President.
The statement said that all railroads
centering here have contracts with thf
striking swischmen.
Official. Of the two big unions have de
clared the strike illegal, ordered the meT
70 return to work and are cooperating
with the rail heads in attempting TO breal
the strike.
The trouble broke Ave days ago, switch
men in the Chicago district yards Of m
Chicago, Milwaukee and -. Pau ran
road going on strike. The limos 1en'fa
and the Northwestern next were affected
the strike spreading to the other rail
roads yesterday and last night.
The Chicago switching district cover
a radius Of 30 mile. and IN it 25,Ooo ear
are handled daily. The yard men make "
and break all trains IN that area, ais
f1spoftingr cars al loading and unloading
platforms.
The demands Of the OUTLAW organiza
ton. the recently formed Chicago YARD
mems ASSOCIATION. are
Forenen Of all yard and transfer en-
rines. 81 per hour: yard helpers, 95 cent
an hour; switch tenders, - a day 10
attending not more than three switches
helpers rate OF pay to apply at 30 cents a
hour: time and half for overtime, sun
davs and all legal holidays, and wher
they are required 10 work more than eign
hours on Sundays or legal holidays doubl
time for all time exceeding eight hours.
II is estimated that $4,000 stockyar
employees will be thrown out OF work e
night as a result OF the strike OF switch
men. the packers announced tins morn
ing. Five thousand were laid of when the
reported for work today and the other
will follow as soon as the small receipts {
animals on hand are taken care OF. Uni
$500 cattle, 5000 hogs and 500 shee
reached the stock yards today, as con
pared 10 receipts of 10000 hogs alone
year ago.
An embargo on all express shipment
was placed this morning by the America
Railway Express Company Ofhcla
said the blizzard yesterday, combine
with the switchmen's strike, had made
! impossible TO move cars ID the local yard