New-York tribune., 1920-04-15
Freight and Passenger
Services Show a Great
Improvement i'm City
and Suburban Areas
Commuters Still
Operate Specials
Staten Island Remains az
Worst Sufferer; Hudson
Tubes Soon to Resume

There were Indications last night
that the "outlaw" strike Of railroad
trainmen was beginning to crumble.
From all strike centers it was re-
ported that the men were returning
to work in large numbers, and it is
possible that the whole situation will
clear up before the Railroad Labor
Board appointed by President Viii
son gets fairly down to work.
Signs Of the breakdown of the
wildcat movement were particu-
larly evident at the railroad termi-
nails, where the trains. for the first
time, were coming and going OIL
nearly normal schedules. The move
ment Of freight took decided Jump,
while the railroad managers report
ed that they had the situation well
in hand.
Commuters Run Trains
The aroused commuters are de-
clared to be in a great measure re-
sponsible for the break in the
strikers ranks. The Erie and Lack
awanna ran twenty indignation
specials" into Jersey City yesterday,
all manned by citizen crews. To-day
these. Indignant" commuters will
bring in more than thirty-five trains.
There was little enthusiasm among
the strikers at their meeting with
DR.. Royal s. Copeland, Commission
er Of Health, in Jersey City last
night. There was evidence that they
we're splitting into radical ele-
ment and another element strongly
disposed to go back to work while
their grievances are being consid
cred by the Railroad Labor Board
DR.. Copeland's request that the
strikers agree to haul foodstufFs into
the city was taken up by the executivc
committee Of the strikers, who prom
lsed him a decision in twcnty-four
hours.
Further difficulties and delays in food
distribution were promised however, b.
drivers and porters employed at the
Washington, Gansevoort and Wallabout
market, who took advantage of the sit.
uation to call strike for s d. m. TODAY
An officer Of Local 202 OF the Driver,
lruckmen and Porters Union boasted
that this strike would completely tie w
New York's food supply
Strikers Deny WEAKNESS
In denying that their ranks wer.
weakening, Edward McIugh, brake
man on the Jersey Central, came for
ward Tor the first time last night as
the spokesman for the local strikers.
AS chairman of the executive commit.
tee, he issued a statement, in part, Il.
follows: I'VE are stronger now than
ever and are gaining more power every
moment. You can print IN your news
pannrs that the men viii not go hack
until they receive q substantial wage
increase. they arc not going to per
mt politicians III their own ranks to
lead them.
"Our wages are inadequate to SUP
port our families Every possible
means of remedying this situation was
exhausted before We individuals
stopped Work. SO burdensome and
hopeless have been the delays of prom
lsed relief that railroad employees
despalred Of obtaining any considera-
ton Of their grievances through their
own representatives or from the gov
ernMent
Railroad trainmen from all over ths
country telegraphed their brotherhood
officials demanding tina. consideration
be given this situation. Nothing hap
pened except more delay. The rail-
road companies were guaranteed q
substantial rate of return, while the
railroad workers were given ambiguous
assurances
Furthermore, the railroads were
able to go directly to the Interstate
Commerce Commission. while the de'nv
In setting up the railroad board left
the railway employees without any pos
sible court of appeal. These DELAYS
led the railway men to despair of OBJ
tanning relief. When no other way of
bringing their case to the attention
Of the government existed they stopped
work
"Now that the Railroad Labor Board
has been appointed we desire to avail
ourselves Of the opportunity provided
by 1T for consideration Of our griev-
ances in accordance with the provi-
slons OF the transportation act"
The statement was sent to members
Of the Labor Board, Albert B. Cum
Minis. chairman of the Interstate Com
nerce Committee of the Senate, and
John j. Esch, chairman of the Inter
state Commerce Committee of the
House. with the request that they con-
slider the matter.
Staten Island Hit Hardest
The community suffering most At
this time appears to be Staten Island
where $4,000 commuters have been cnt
of from train service by the suspen-
sion of the three lines of the Slater
Island Rapid Transit Company. Il WAS
stated that only one-ffth Of these COM
muters were able to get to New YORK
yesterday and these under the greatest