New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-18
Strike Situation
improves Rapidly
Walk Out appears to
Haze Failed Except In
Chicago and Cleveland

CHICAGO, April 1.-THE railroad
strike situation throughout the coun-
try improved rapidly to-day. Aside
from new insurgent movement in
Cleveland and reiteration by Chicago
radicals of their determination to stay
everywhere. In Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Toledo, Jacksonville and other
rail centers which had been crippled
the strikers were going back almost
without exception. Camden. N. j., re-
ported the greatest drift back to work,
with more than 1000 switchmen put
ting their wage demands up to the
Railroad Labor Board for settlement.
In Cleveland break in the passen-
ger service developed, when twelve or
fifteen second trick switchmen at the
Union Station refused to go to work.
Three of the men said they would
handle mail trains, but not passenger
trains. The crew objected to the hand
ling of express cars on passenger
trains. Volunteers in the station re-
placed the men. Company officials
said little delay was experienced in
handling passenger traffic.
Frank j. O'Rourke, president of the
Cleveland Yardmen's Association, upon
learning of the strike of passenger train
switchmen, ordered the men to return
to work Immediately, saying it was not
the purpose of the association to inter
fere with the handling of mail or pas
senger traffic. All but one crew, who
could not be found, returned to work
Demand Organizations Recognition
The striking yardmen in Cleveland
sent a telegram to the Railroad Labor
Board in Washington Offering to go
back to work at once, even if it was
necessary to revise their wage de-
mands, if their OUTLAW" organization
was recognized by the government.
eve notified the board" said F. J.
O'Rourke, president of the yardmen's
association, chat we will not consent
the Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmcn
or the Switchmen's Union of North
America"
t One provision of the men returning
to work, he said, necessarily would be
that the men retain all seniority rights.
w. G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, pointed out
that the efforts Of the men to negoti-
ate with the labor boards were futile.
because the new transportation act
specifically provides that workers
time of presentation of grievances.
Mr.. Lee said the brotherhood would
try to expel any members who joined
the "outlaw" strike and refused to re-
turn to work.
Toledo Strike Breaking
In Toledo the strike was beginning
to break. Representatives of the
switchmen said the majority would not
return on all lines until they had re-
celved formal assurance from the roads
that there would be no discrimination
! against strikers and that wage demands
would be speedily considered. 1t was
said that the WHY'S Overland plant.
the closing of which threw ten thou
sand out of work early this week, would
resume operations Monday.
In Cincinnati, only 400 out of 1900
yardmen were still on strike. In In
dianapolis the men are holding out for
So day
In Detroit, the switchmen held their
own. The industrial tic-up was made
more complete when the Packard Motor
Car Company's plant suspended opera
tions, throwing 1000 out Of work.
An attempt to break the tie-up with
fo,mer switchmen recruited from the
ranks of idle factory Employees will be
made Monday unless the strike has
been called off by then. Henry Shearer.
general superintendent of the Michigan
Central, announced.
In Pittsburg the Baltimore e. Ohio