Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-04-12
RAIL STRIKE
CONDITIONS
IMPROVING
Officials of Brotherhoods Say
Crisis of WaIkout Past
President of Outlaws De.
cIares Situation Unchanged.
UNION HEADS MEET WITH
.lNSURGENT LEADERS
More Switchmen Reported Re-
turning to Work and Quick
Return to Normal Basis Is
Predicted by Chicago Men.

Return to Normal Basis Is
Predicted by Chicago Men.
Columbus, O., April ll.-Six hun
dred switchmen employed by the
Pennsylvania railroad here who
struck Friday night, voted today to
return to work tomorrow morning.
Approximately FIVE hundred engin-'
GERS and firemen in the yards also
will return as a result of the switch"
mems decision.
Chicago, April ll.-While officers
of the railroad brotherhoods, who
united with railroad heads to break
the unauthorized strike of SWITCH
men, which started in the Chicago
terminal district, announced tonight
that the situation was steadily im-
proving and that the crisis of the
walkout was past. John Grunau,
president OF the Chicago Yardmen's
association. who called the strike.
declared the situation is un.
changed"
1.-THE situation in the Chicago dis
triet is distinctly improved tonight"
S. E. Heberling, president of the
Switchmen's Union Of North Amer
ica, said. "More men are returning
to work and We look for an early
return to normal conditions"
Mr.. Heberling said that brothers
hood leaders were meeting with DEL
egations of strikers in an effort. to
end the walkout and that satisfacI
tory progress was being made.
Instruct Men to Return.
1t was reported that several CONF
mittees representing the strikers
were canvassing the individual work.
ers and delivering instructions to
return to work. Edward Corrigan,
assistant grand chief of the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers.
made public a communication adj
dressed to him by one of these CONF
mittees. It read, in part:
"Wc the undersigned, local COM
mittee, representing members of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin.
eers and Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen. hereby re-
quest that you request the General
Managers association to give us the
same raise in wages as demanded
by the B. L. E. and the B. L. F. E.
I'm returning to our work we do
so with the understanding that our
seniority rights shall be protected"
II feel absolutely certain that the
men will be back at their work witha
in 4S hours" said Mr.. Corrigan.
"Our plans appear to have the de-
sired effect. We are taking this
action to protect our old men. They
have been i'll advised, but they now
see their mistake"
Grunau Predicts SuccesA
At an open meeting of the strik-
ers John Grunau, leader of the in
surgent element, predicted success
for the walkout.
We are going to win," he said.
mo one has returned to work and
reports have been received from all
parts of the country that traffic is
tied up. I have such te1egrams and
letters from St. Louis, Kansas City,
Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit. San
Francisco, San Antonio and other
rail centers. Many of these COM
munications report that more men
are going on strike.
There is talk of the government
taking hand. If l have to 20 to
prison for anything I have done it
will be for action in a right cause.
I do not see how they could put mo
i'll prison, though. I have not orr
dered you out and have no power
to order you back. You simply left
your jobs because you weren't get-
ting enough to live on"
Urge Peaceful Methods.
Grunau warned the men to avoid
violence. Other speakers also urged
peaceful methods.
Several speakers said the estab-
lished unions were not giving their
members square deal, w. G. Lee.
president of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen. being singled
out for criticism.
The strikers also claimed they
were being treated unfairly by the
press. "They tell you that men are
going back in other places. They
tell men in other cities that you are
going back" President Grunau said.
Don't believe it."
Speakers from rail centers in
Ohio. Indiana and Pennsylvania
said there was no freight moving in
that part of the country.
Much Improvement Noted.
A noticeable improvement in the
strike situation in every railroad ter
mlnal district was announced to-
night in statement made public by
the railroads.
The situation with reference to
the strike in Chicago continues to
improve" the statement said. an
fact, there is noticeable improve.
ment on every road in the district.
The management of the Grand
Trunk railroad advises that its strik-
ing employees at Battle Creek and
Durand, Mich, returned to work.
The movement of livestock, coal
and other commodities for Chicago
proper has improved, as we'll as ths
movement of Chicago outbound
freight.
Through passenger and suburban
business in and out of Chicago Is
maintained at 100 per cent.
"As the situation continues to I'M
prove, the railroads are lifting their
embargoes. although it will be some
time before freight will move noss
mally."