Omaha daily bee., 1920-04-09
Chicago, April 8.-The unauthor

'aASooeJ <hPi - ~. III
lied strike of switchmen and rail-
road engine men which started in
the Chicago district and spread to-
day to several cities will be broken
within the next 48 hours, A. F.
Whitney, vice president of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,
and S. E. Heberhng, international
president of the Switchmen's Union
of North America, predicted tonight.
The strike situation in Chicago,
showed some improvement during
the day. but Whitney said that the
traffic handled was still less than
50 per cent of normal One thou
sand brotherhood men from other
cities have answered the call to
come here as strike breakers, he
added.
The Railroad Managers associa-
ton reported that more engines
were operated today than at any
time since the strike began. -
Strike Spreading, ( Z
While conditions here showed
Improvement, the strike was spread
ing throughout the country from
coast to coast. Reports tonight
summarize the situation as follows:
Chicago-8,00O men out; freight
traffic 80 to 40 per cent of normal;
10000 packing plant workers thrown
out of work with complete suspen-
sion of the plants, employing $4,000
men, in prospect tomorrow.
Buffalo,, 500 to $500 men idle;
embargo on all freight in effect.
Kansas City-200 to 500 men out;
freight embargo in effect.
Los Angeles-1,200 men employed
by transcontinenta lines on strike.
Toledo-600 men out; complete
freight tieup within "a hours pre-
dicted.
Detroit-1,OOO men out and 500
more expected to follow tonight.
Gary-300 to 400 idle; $50 B. of
R. T. men vote to remain loyal to
their union.
East St. Louis-20O out, 5000 in
St. Louis vote to resign" at mid
night unless demands are granted.
Decatur, Ill-107 on strike, vote
to stay out until demands granted
Joliet, Ill.-50 on four roads
strike; Chicago Outer Belt men re-
fuse to join walkout.
Springfield, Ill-Baltimore and
Ohio switchmen out.
T. Cotton. Cal.-50 Southern Pacific
men quit; freight tied up.
Cleveland-l, 500 to vote tonight
on strike issue.
Sheridan, Wyo.-Meh vote to re-
main at work and send delegation
to Chicago to aid in breaking strike.
Niagra Falls-Switchmen refuse
to strike after listening to appeals
from 50 Buffalo strikers.
Elmira, N. Y.-Yardmen of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western.
New York Central and Lehigh Val
ley ordered out.
Pittsburgh-2,OOO Pennsylvania
employees at Conway yards vote to
strike at midnight if demands not
granted.
Memphis-Yardmen on all but
two roads entering the city vote
to strike at p. m. Friday if de-
mands not granted.
Fort Wayne-Strike of 5000
Pennsylvania shopmen believed set
tied. Strike had no connection with
switchmen's walkout
Jersey City, N. Erie yard
brakenen struck today.
May Investigate Walkout.
Washington, April S.-Congress
took cognizance today OF the strikes
of railroad employees which, starting
at Chicago, have spread to half
dozen cities from the Pacific to the
Atlantic.
Senator Mccormick, republican.
Illinois, introduced a resolution att
thorizing the interstate. commerce
committee to investigate the walk
outs and to report on the causes and
merits OF the CONTROVERSY. 1t was
referred to the contingent expenses
committee, which will recommend
whether funds for the inquiry Should
be voted.
The resolution proposed all in
vestigation of any existing strike OF
railroad employees not authorized by
the leaders of the railroad workers
union. Senator Pomerene, democrat,
Ohio. wanted to know whether the
resolution would apply specifically
to strikes reported today from Los
Angeles. Buffalo and other cities.
Senator Mccormick said it would
apply to all strikes in which the men
have disregarded the judgment OF
their responsible leaders"