Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-03
Strike of Switchmen on
Milwaukee at Chicago
May Spread.
FREIGHT EMBARGO
ALREADY IN EFFECT
No Freight Being Accepted on MIL
waukss Line-Terminal System
strike Affects Other Lines-strike
said 70 Be Due TO Trouble Be-
twssn Unions--Threatened Strike
on Rock island Lines Averted.
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
Chicago, April 3.-Freight tratno
on the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST.
Paul railroad was at standstiii TO-
day, and operation Of the Chicago
Junction railroad was crippled as the
result of the strike Of 1000 switch
men and yard employees. An empar-
60 on. acceptance of all freight ship
ments was effective on the former
road.
TOree hundred yardmen employed
by the Chicago Junction railroad,
connecting link for trunk lines into
Chicago, Joined the walkout last
night, The men demand the rein
statement of John Gruano. president
OF tus union, and d scale of 95 cents
an hour for switchmen and 81 an
hour for conductors.
May BE at All Lines.
With one railroad crisis pareiy
averted, Chicago and the middle west
face another possible tieup OF pas
senger and freight traffic.
Unless the demands of the switch
men now on strike on the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul line are grant
ed within forty-eight hours a general
walkout Of 1880 switchmen and
switchtenders employed in the Chi
cazo district will be called. This was
announced last night by officials OF
the Chicago Yardmen's Association.
Should this occur. practically all
traffic except the necessary move
ment Of United States mails would
be held up on all lines leading from
Chicago. It was stated. The district
affected comprises all the railroad
yards within a radius of thirty miles
OF the city. and includes Gary. HAM
mcnd, Indiana Harbor. and other
parts Of the steel district.
Demands Of switohmsn.
Friday afternoon TOO swftchmen
employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul walked out while negotia-
tions on their demands were still in
progress. These demands asked 81
an hour for conductors, time and
one-half for all overtime, including
Sundays and legal holidays, and dou-
BILE time for all work over eight
hours on Sundays and holidays.
In addition the men asked 95 cents
an hour as basic wage for switchmen,
that the eight hour day be strictly
enforced, and that switchmen ham
ding less than three switches receive
a minimum Of * daily-
These demands were called unfair
and exorbitant by union officials.
Men in Two Unions.
The Chicago yardmen's union Is
the outgrowth OF q fight between
conservative leaders Of the Brother
hood OF Railway Trainmen and q
radical minority. As in other un-
ions affiliated with the Chicago Fed
Grafton Of Labor. the radical element
broke away and formed new or
ganization.
A number Of the switchmen af-
fected by the strike are members Of
both organizations, tho B. r. T. be-
cause Of its insurance advantages
lection. It affords.
Yesterday at meeting in Healy's
hall at California avenue and Madi-
son street A. F. Whitney, vice presi-
dent of the brotherhood, endeavored
to persuade, the strikers to return to
work.
This strike was unauthorized" he
declared. "our agreement with the
railroad does not expire for some
time" His talk had no effect.
Calls Yardmen Pro- German
"The Yardmen's association is a
pro- German outfit" Whitney said
later. "They do not want to leave
the wage dispute to the president, as
agreed by our labor conference. They
want to take It into their own hands
The union IL only three months old.
and / don't think they have moro
than 800 members"
John Gronau. president OF the,
striking organizaiion, blamed rne at
stitude OF labor officials IN Washing
ton tor the present crisis.
The yardmen's union, Of which I
am the organizer, has about $500
members at present, including en-
sployes on every line coming into the
city. We have been accused several
times Of being . pro- German or
ganixation That Il untrue. / was
born In Illinois, AZ were my parents
before ma"
J. +. sGillick, general manager OF
the Chicago. Milwaukee ana st.
Paul railroad. was pessimistic re-
Sar4ing the situation.
II II u fight between two unions
more than between the men and the
read" he said. "All can do is .sit
tight ana wait for something to hap
pen
Rock Island Strike Avertsd.
@% u Representative Of the Brotherhood
sOi Railway Tsainmen and officials Of
g: !: :. !, ss.e. tls.5
10 conclude working agreement, -dif-
ferences ovsr which threatened g.
strike Of trainmen.
Agreement on virtually all points
was reached last night and strike
sreferendum taken by the brother
4hcod would bs disregarded It was
announced.
ssiSht E,Wb4 70 in Nsw York.
4By Asaocjated rEsess.
New York prtl genefal en-
II s.S u ss
;ty II sg