Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-16
CLOSES CAPITALS \
SOUTH GATEWAY.
Agitators Reported Working I'd
Involve Richmond in
Labor Trouble.
BROTHERHOOD CHIEFS ACT
Railroad Trainmen's Local
President Urges Workers to !:
Stand by Their Jobs. i
BROTHERHOOD CHIEFS ACT
tDy Associated Pres,

| IBy Associated PressI
WASHINGTON, April 15.-TTeighb
traffic into this city. particularly
from the South, was again threatened
with complete stoppage tonight when
employees at Potomac freight yards
Joined the strike for the second time.
Some workers were out also at Eek
ington yards, the receiving point for
freight from the North and West. -
| officials at the Potomac yards said
traffic was virtually at staudstilI
there. They hoped, however, to effect
n settlement before morning They
were in conference with employees,
representatives. at IL p. NJ. Leaders
of the strikers had agreed to attempt
TO get the men back to work, 1t was
said. but doubted their ability to-
do SO without delay.
The tic-up at the lexington yards
was said not to be as complete as
| that at the Potomac yards.
Officials said the strikers included
many of the same men who went out
earlier in the week. virtually closing
this main gateway to the South, but
who were induced by representatives
OF the railroad brotherhoods to re-
turn to work Tuesday night with thaS
intention OF submitting their demands
to the railway labor board Railroad
officials said no new demands had been
presented when the present walkous
| occurred.
Brotherhood officials were again al
work tonight endeavorfng to get tfis
lstrlkers bacls to- work and epattfcias5
pated In the conferences betwosri )
strike leaders and railroad officials.
AEitators In lichmond.
Following the second Outlaw
strike" OF trainmen employed Ia tho
Potomac yards. local officials of the
Brotherhood of R7di2way Trainmeu
were making every effort last night
to combat the efforts OF agitators
who are counseling defiance OF the
ibrotherhood and endeavoring to bring
about strike In the Richmond yards.
News was received here last night
that tho o'clock shift had walked
out In n body at Potomac yards.
after having apparently renounced
the radicals by returning to their
Jobs Tuesday at midnight. Julian NJ.
| Pitt. president OF the local lodge OF
the brotherhood of Railway Train
men, was in communication with IT.
NJ Cousins. chairman OF the Ericy.
ance committee in Washington. last
night Cousins told the IocaI ofti-
ctal that the strikers were out I'M
open defiance OF the organization and
that nothing could be done with them.
The b. r. T.. according to Mr.. pitt.
IS appealing to its members to remain
on the Jobs and turn deaf ear to-
| the agi.ator. While the advice of the
union is being disregarded in many
sections of the country, Mr.. Pitt was
of the opinion that the trainmen run,
ming out Of Richmond on the r. E. &.
2. will remain on their Jobs
0TlcinIs Go to wnshingtoa.
OHlclals OF the company admitted
| last night that the o'clock shift at
Potomac yards had walked out. hut
we're in hopes that the two remaining
shifts would report for duty. Several
officials left for Washington last night
TO see what could be done to meet tho
| new situation.
The latest walkout will not afrcct
| tue ioeal 1000 situation at all. as the
freight embargo still existed in Wash.
ington. precluding the possibility OF
moving any freight from the North to
this city The only freight shipments
stopped by the waikout are those or.
| iEinatins in Washington, and thasa
arc immntcrial.
In calling on members Of the q. n.
T. to prove their loyalty to nation ami
! employer in this crisis, President Pitt5s
issued statement which will be post
| ed today in all places where the men
| assemble.
| Appeal to Trniamen.
The appeal follows:
! TO tranmen of tho R, F.. Il a,
| Divisions:
AS you know the mistake made bv
the men on Potomac yard and other
roads, leaving tho service of tho com. s
rany In violation OF tho laws of the.
brotherhood in these moments OF
/ stress, may I not charge you witb
your responsibility to your govern.
ment. to your organization and 10 TIA
company for which you work? u
! NO doubt you will be told that tina
/ is strike which the organization has
sanctioned 1 wish to say to you thar
the present strike Is unauthorized b
that the brotherhood will not in anv
way lend its support to the strikers
but rather lend its support in an en-.
Geavor to maintain regularity Of ser.
vice. fs
ITO those of you who are employed
not to permit the agitators ittss at shts HHs
good Judgment and. Induce you to
leave your Jobs. for later you NAV no
sorry you took such step. Nav d
Brotherhood OF Railway Train r,a.o
and to the company which entnirSs% %s