Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-04-09
(By International News service.)

Ntl AAc NSN CAopCu iioHi wa NdtS INV
facts today.
Despite roassuring reports from
railroad officials and the heads OF
the brotherhoods that normal con.
ditions are being restored here, re-
ports poured into Chicago almost
hourly of new additions to the strike
in other cities. and. with 26 cities
already affected, the trouble assum-
ed national proportions.
Realizing that Chicago Is the
heart of the trouble, the railroad
and brotherhood heads are concen-
trating every effort to break the
back OF the strike here. feeling
that II this can be accomplished
with strikes in other cities will
really subside.
In the meantime, railroad service
throughout the country has been
seriously crippled, with the conse-
quent seriousness Of effects on in
dustry generally.
Thus far the only government &C
ton has been a proposal by Presi-
dent Wilson to appoint a wage
board to settle the walkout--a sug.
gesaon sneered at by the strikers
and the sending to Chicago of G..
w. w. Hanger OF the board Of medi-
alton and Cancellation, who came
here merely to make a survey of
the situation and without authorize
ton to offer government mediation.
His lack OF mediation powers, Il.
was explained, was due to the fact
that the government does not in
tend to recognize the OUTLAW" I'M
ions to that extent.
The latest bulletin from the dis.
trict chairman of the railroad bro.
therhoods. which are fighting for
their very existence in their at.
tempts to smash tho strikes, de-
clared that there has been n notice
able, though small Improvement" in
the situation here and It continues.
MEN drifted back to work in
groups Thursday and conditions in
the district appeared to be well In
hand. On most OF the lines more
| switching crews were working
Thursday than any time since Sun
day. In nearly every yard freight IS
moving, apparently at least fifty pei
cent The strike is beginning &c
fade"
These claims, OF course, are met
with derision from the strikers
They claim that not only have there
been no assertions from their
ranks, but their number IL being
augmented hourly by assertions
! he, nh MI
deny there Is any movement OF
freight in the yards.
Appeals Of the union chiefts to
| induce the strikers to return to
work were futile. A meeting of
! which Samuel Ebberling, information
| al president of the switchmen's un
ion OF North America, made such a
plea was typical.
This strike is Illegal" declared
Ehberling. after a prolonged greet
ing of cheers and Kisses. "You can't
get away with It. Do you think you
are bigger than the United States?'
Yes" shouted his 500 hearers In
chorus.
At several of the meetings men
known to be members OF the /. w
| w. addressed the strikers and were
loudly applauded. At one OF such
meetings John Krietz, switchman
who arose and urged his followers
to return to work, was shot. He
was taken away before the police
arrived.
Reaches New York
New York, April 9-Switchmen In
some yards OF the New York Cen.
trail and New Haven railroads join.
ed the OUTLAW strike among rail
road workers today, extending the
movement to include all OF New
York's principal traffic arteries.
The freight yards at Jersey City
were closed completely this morn.
Ing. although passenger traffic COL.
tinued as usual. The other roads af-
rected were the Erie, Lackawanna,
Pennsylvania and West Shore.
The men did not go out in large
, numbers, but officials are fearful
that the movement will spread rap
idly here as 1t did in other cities.
Government Watching
Washington, April 9.-President
Wilson and other high government
officials are today watching care
fully events In connection with the
widespread unauthorized strikes OF
railroad workers.
Full facts as to the gravity Of the
situation have been laid before the
president and he is fastening con-
pletion Of the railroad wage board
created by the Cummins-Esch bill,
which would afford machinery for
the settlement of the strike. Fur
Their government action to curb the
strikes may be taken il conditions
do not improve, but at present the
attitude Of officials Is that the
strikes can be curbed by officials of
the railroad brotherhoods and the
government Is inclined to allow
these officials TO deal with the situ2-
ton. rather than to use the force
Of the government.
Labor leaders here today charg-
ed that stool pigeons" OF the rail
road companies are agitating the
strikes among the railroad work
ers as part Of conspiracy to dis
rupt the unions and are responsible
for the present trouble,
They expressed the opinion that
action will be taken at the conven-
ton OF the railway employees de-
partment OF the American Fedora
ton of Labor which opens in Kan
sas City next Monday. which will
force an authorized strike Of 1000.