The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-12


 Chicago, April 1.-The nrst important break in the unauthorized strike of rail- road employees, which started in the Chi cago terminal district nearly two weeks ago, occurred tonight at Columbus, when 800 switchmen on the Pennsylvania Raii- road voted to return to work tomorrow In addition, 300 engineers and firemen. forced out of work by the strike, will re- turn
 Although there was no general move ment back to work among the 10000 men reported on strike throughout the country, defections from the ranks of the insur- gents were reported yesterday and to- day in Chicago Kansas City, in Califor- nia and several other places, and brother of the strike movement was past
 Leaders of the rebel wa1ilout, however. maintained that the strike was gaining momentum and that their ranks were daily augmenting
 A statement issued by railroads in the Chicago area declared that the situation was steadily improving and that the movement of live stock, coal and other commodities into Chicago was increasing Passenger train service was being main tained at 100 per cent, it was announced.
 EMBARGOES LIFTED
 In Chicago freight embargoes have been lifted by the New York Central and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul rail roads. In a number of important centers railroad employees have voted not to strike.
 Large sections of the country still were virtually unaffected by the walkout, no- tably New England, the southeastern, the northwest and mountain states.
 In Columbus where about 5000 men were idle, the return to work of one-third was expected to relieve the food and fuel situation.
 Passenger traffic was affected very lit- tie, except in the New York area, where service was reported below 50 per cent of normal. =
 FOOD FAMINE FEAR ALLEGED Fears of a food famine in New York City were allayed by the arrival of sup plies over the New York Central and the New Haven railroads. Although the Hud- son and Manhattan tubes were still shut down today ferry service between New York and New Jersey was improved. Sev- eral thousand were reported on strike Tn Eastern New Jersey, and freight trat- ffc was considerably hampered.
 The crew of the Chicago Express on the Erie railroad abandoned the train ae Port Jarvis, New York, ninety miles from New York tonight. Two hundred ana fifty passengers were on the train
 It was announced iFOIi w aS'iiAS va that the question of governmental action in the strike would be taken up by At torney General Palmer upon his return to Washington tomorrow. Reports from the strike districts were being assembled py the department of justice.
 Action could be taken by the govern ment under the Lever act 1t was indl- cated.
 CALL OFF STRIKE
 Several hundred striking switchmen at Milwaukee voted today not to return to work The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul road declared an embargo on perish able freight. At Wellsviile, Ohio, l,zoV yardmen and road men went on strike today. More men went out in Pittsburs region and 800 quit at Peoria. In the Cleveland district, where 2,Wo were reported on strike-blast mills anu steel mills began laying off men. EieVen hundred men were thrown out or Wor's in Newburg The normal movement or freight in Cleveland was cut one-fffth to- day, All terminals with the exception ot the Collinwood switching yards, where S9o ears of freight were handled, were re- ported tied up.
 Samuel Gompers. president of the American Federation of Labor, who ar rived in Cleveland today, declared the walkolIt q mistake and said the federation would support the pTotne4 hoous IT ".,. struggle with the insurgent strikers He will confer with brotherhood chiefs to- morrow
 w. G. Lee. president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, said he had re- ceived many reports from brotherhooo chairmen throughout the country an nouncing improved. conditions. Loyalty to the union was pledged py Cincinnati switchmen in letter to S. E, Heberling. president of the Switchmen's g Union of North America.