Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-04-16
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Insurgent Switchmen Call a
Strike in Defiance Of Regular
Unions and Force Tie.Up.
FRENCH TROOPS IN GERMANY
Japanese Take vladlvostok and VIII
Stay In SIberIa-The Rent Situa-
tion In Anerica--llberals Gain
In Observation-Disclosures
Ship Canal Project Up.
BY {. r. cLiPSoN.

The railroad strike which started In
Chicago and became acute colncldent
with the Easter blizzard, spread rap
idly until nearly every prominent rail
center In the country was affected.
The first few days found traffic serl-
ously dlsorganzed around the Great
Lakes and some other portions Of the
middle West by the double results OF
the storm and the walkout. From the
beginning 1t was evident that the labor
trouble was not one directly involving
the men and their employers. but was
an internal fight taking on the char
acterlstics Of civil war among the
unions themselves.
Starting with rebellion of radical
elements among switchmen against the
authority OF the Brotherhood Of Rail-
road Tralnmen and the Switchmen's
union of North America, 1t spread and
was supported by similar elements In
other branches Of railway employment.
Insurgent switchmen. however, formed
the center Of the movement and the
other railway unions were involved to
a lesser extent. Many enginemen, fire.
men and others were forced to stop
work, but II appears that few Of them
walked out voluntarily. They were
rendered idle by the action Of the
switchmen.
The strike was unauthorized,
breach of contract. and received no
sanction from brotherhood officials.
In fact, II was condemned at once by
the regular officials and their 0rgani-
cations to the extent that they have
aided In every way its suppression,
even going to the unprecedented
length Of authorizing strike breakers
and sanctloning the employment of
men from other unions to take the
places OF the striking switchmen.
Many switchmen have stood by their
regular organizations refusing to take
any part tacitly or otherwise In the
outlaw action. During the worst
periods of the trouble probably 80 per
cent of the switchmep have been at
work and loyal In their sentiments TO
the regular organization. Taking into
consideration others also loyal In
sentiment but inundated by the rad
icals, II becomes evident that sub
stantial majority was opposed 10 the |
strike. Among the other important
unions the percentage of REGULARS"
has been much higher than among the
switchmen.
Responsible unionlsm has been un-
der fire and has borne heavy attack
with the public, as usual, the chief
sufferer. The whole railroad wage
question was scheduled for early con-
sIderation and complete hearing I'M
der the new railroad law. The strike
was virtual serving of notice that
the insurgents cared nothing for the
law and would not wait for hearing
lin effect defiance Of responsible
unionism, law and the public. At
least so II Is regarded by the officials
of railway brotherhoods, employers
and public sentiment so far as It can
be cleaned. In the strike are clearly
reflected the borrowed doctrines Of Eu-
r0pean radicals, and many observers
profess to see the direct results Of
by the Russian Third In
ternationale" and Its most prominent
sentimental proponent In this country
the !. W. w.
After a few days of the strike rail-
way officials were claiming In few
instances almost normal restoration OF
traffic and In general, conditions 40
to so per cent Of normal. But the
whole country has been hampered with
a curtallment of the movement Of
food, fuel, perlshable commodities and
practically all the necessaries of life.
has been affected with a