Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-03
OFFICIAL Of UNION
ASSERTS STRIKE Of
CLERKS IS ILLEGAL
Declines to Authorize Gen.
eraI WaIkout and Orders
Men to Return to Their
Posts

While the strike of freight clerks
on leading Atlanta railroads and
other southeastern lines was official
ly' declared illegal Tuesday evening
by the head of the national brother
hood, according to kilograms and
press dispatches, no general order in
structing the clerks to return to
work had been issued up to 1 o'clock
Wednesday by Vice Grand President
J. v Nelson, of Atlanta, who is in
charge of the situation for the clerks
Mr.. Nelson takes the position that
the telegram from E. H. Fitzgerald,
grand president of the brotherhood
which were sent through his chief
clerk at Cincinnati, may not be au-
thentic. He will take no action I'M
til he receives advices direct from
Mr.. Fitzgerald, he said.
The freight congestion at the At
lanta Joint Terminals was greatly
relieved Wednesday by the return of
fifty or sixty clerks Tuesday and a
formal decision as to the question
of coming back in a body was expect
ed at a meeting of the clerks with
officials of the Joint Terminals dur
ing the afternoon. Additional clerks
applied for reinstatement at the
Central of Georgia road Wednesday,
superintendent NJ. B. Smith stated
He intended taking care of as many
old clerks as possible, he said, al
though the Central has plenty of
workers.
The messags from the national
head of the brotherhood not only
declared the present strike Illegal,
but flatly declined to authorize gen
eral strike in the southeast. Ac-
cording to the kilograms, all general
chairmen of the brotherhoods, other
labor organizations and the govern
ment have been notified by wire as
to the situation. An Associated
Press dispatch from Chicago Tuesday
night quoted Grand President Fitz-
authorized. This dispatch stated
that a grand lodge officer had been
sent to Atlanta to order the men
back to work.
The kilograms follow:
An appeal to. Atlanta business
houses, asking that they call for
freight on hand at the Central of
Division superintendent M. B. Smith
Wednesday,, According to Mr.. Smith
a large volume of freight is on
hand uncalled for and has served to
Following are the kilograms
Mr.. L. L. Mcdonald, Assistant
superintendent Transportation, At
7ap ba Joint Terminals, Atlanta Ga;
Brotherhood Railway clerks. dated
Chicago. May 81, 1920:
Wire general chairmen United
and that. L have not authorized e
legal strike since assuming the duty
of the office of the grand presi-
dent. The laws of your organiza
vision of the transportation act com
piled with, and then confirm this
wire by letter, sending copy to chief
executives of the sixteen standard
recognized labor organizations. AL
so the secretary of the railway en-
u. E. M'QUADE,
Chief Clerk to Grand President,
Brotherhood Railway Clerks, Sec
ond NATIONAL Bank Building, Gin
"CINCINNATT, June 1, 192O.-Mr.
l.. L. Mcdonald, Assistant Superin-
tendent Transportation. Atlanta Joint
Terminals, Atlanta, Ga: I have the
following wire from Mr.. e. II. Fitz-
gerald, grand president, Brotherhood
Railway Clerks, dated Chicago, ILL.,,
May 81, 1920:
Following wire to Nelson to-
night: Refer to your wire 5:35 p. M,
which refers to action of Southeast
ern Federation. The grand president
is the only officer authorized to sane
ton a strike, and he has not, and
will not do SO, in present controver-
sy. The last wire of yours is the
first request that you have made for
the authority to call strike, and this
authority is declined. I am taking
the entire controversy before the Ia
Dor board Tuesday morning. Advise
Federation accordingly. Confirmation
to you by mail. Repeat this to all
general chairmen southeastern dis
trict, instructing them to keep all
members at work in compliance with
the law. Post copy of this message
on all bulletin boards
81. E. M'QUADE,
Chief Clerk to the Grand President
Brotherhood Railway Clerks, Sec
ond National Bank Building, Gin
cinnati, Ohio