The Washington times., 1920-04-16
ECKINCTON WORKERS BACK;
POTOMAC YARDS REOPENED
District Attorney Begins Probe
of Walkout by D. c. Rail-
road Men. =
SIX SUMMONED TO TESTIFY
Indictments Planned If Viola
tions of Lever Act Are Proven
BY Testimony.

The Federal grand jury here to-
day is probing the strike Of the rail-
road yardmen and conductors.
Six of the striking railroad men
Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
who walked out at the lexington
yards yesterday, have been summon
ed to appear before the grand jury
and they will be questioned this aft
ern0on.
~ May Bring Indictments.
Efforts arc being made by United
States District Attorney John Il.
Laskey, who summoned the strikers
before the grand jury to uncover un-
tangible evidence which probably
could not have been gotten In any
other way ut this time. to warrant In
dictmsnts against the insurgent Lead
ers responsible for the recurrence Of
conductors, not only Of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. but the other rail-
roads. - -s
Speedy action, II was said, win be
taken by District Attorney Laskey.
who n backed BY the Department of
Justice, against the "outlaw" leaders.
should they be indicted. They will
De brought TO trial without delay.
other cases pending In court being
held up until after the hearing OF any
Of the strikers and their leaders who
should be indicted.
For the past three days, It was
stated, District Attorney Laskey has
questioned a number of the strikers.
He has sifted their testimony before
him and those believed to have knowl-
edge of the identity Of the OUTLAW
leaders and others in completely with
them. have been summoned to tell
the grand jury what they know. for
the purpose of obtaining indictments.
Those responsible for precipitating
the strike, should it be found they
deliberately violated the Lever act
and other Federal statutes will be
indicted with expedition by the
grand jury, 1t was stated.
Summonses were served on the six
strikers yesterday afternoon by depu-
ties from the office of United States
Marshal Maurice Splain and agents OF
the Department of Justice, who have
been quietly working during the
strike to pin down responsibility for
the OUTLAW" strike. 1t is said that
the investigation conducted by Dis
IrlCt AItOTHey ILdshey anu agents VI
the Department OF Justice has un-
covered evidence which the grand
jury will be given in addition to the
testimony of the six strikers.
Among the strikers questioned by
District Attorney Laskey have been
a number who walked out from the
yards of the Washington Terminal
and the Potomac Yards of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad.
To Fix Responsibility.
An official of the Government this
morning said: "The Government is
determined to get down to those re-
sponsible for the strike conditions in
and around Washington. Evidence
has shown 1t was pulled off by an
insidious group. Should testimony be
given the grand jury to this effect,
it Is likely that wholesale arrests
will be made as q result of the find
ings Of the Federal body"
Just what the six strikers are to
tell the grand jury could not be as
mated, however, that they will be
asked II they wanted to strike, IL
they were in sympathy with the
movement to 60 on strike, and who
led the forces out, regardless Of the
opposition of the recognized brother
hoods.
They will also be asked what con-
gested conditions have been brought
about in their yards. of the amount
OF perishable foodstuffs loaded on cars
which cannot be moved as a result of
the strike, and series of other
questions which will aid the grand
jury in sitting the testimony and
finding whether or not sufficient tam
gible evidence has. been obtained to
bring indictments against those re-
sponslble for the walkouts.