The Washington herald., 1920-04-11
Gov. Lowden Reluctant to
Order Out Military Ex-
cept as Last Resort.
LEADER GETS REBUFF
Managers Refuse to Treat
With Grunau, but Investi-
gators Subpoena Him.
(By a staff, Correspondent


Chicago, April Io.-Unless the
situation among the striking switch
men in Chicago changes for the
better in the next forty-eight hours,
Federal troops arc likely to be
parading the Chicago railroad
yards carly next week. This was
forecast today by District Attor-
ncy Charles R. Clyne, who, after
long distance telephone conver-
sation with the Attorney Generals
Office in Washington, said that af-
fairs would come to a head by
Monday.
"The only thing I can say at
this time." said Mr.. Clyne, "is
that the United States is not en-
tirely powerless in a, question
which affects the food supply not
only of a city but of the entire
nation"
State Troops Ready.
From other sources it was learned
that members of the Eleventh Regi-
ment, Illinois National Guard, had
received orders to hold themselves
in readiness for duty. However.
Governor Lowden is opposed to call
resort He refused to call out the
guardsmen during the steel strike
in South Chicago and other points
last winter.
Conflicting reports come from the
entire Central West. The outlaw
strikers claim that there are acces-
sions to their ranks in every part
of the country and that 95 per cent
of the men are out in the Chicago
district.
The General Managers Associa-
ton claims that conditions are ap-
preaching normal in many yards,
but the fact remains. as iHVestiga-
tions show, that little freight is
moving.
Managers Rebuff Grunau.
An was IOOdy Dy
John Grunau. head of the seeding
switchmen, to arrange conference
with the railroad officials. This was
fatty refused by the general man
ayers and the latter were backed up
in their attitude by the officials of
the regular unions affected by the
unauthorized strike.
Grunau, however, received atten-
ton from another source. During
the day he was called to District
Attorney Clyne's office and handed a
subpoena to appear before Fed
eral Senate investigators Monday.
Whether the investigators will meet
here or in Washington is not clear.
1t is understood that Grunau was
told to depart for Washington, how
ever.
That the strike is gradually par
alyzing transportation in the coun-
try is being reluctantly admitted by
railroad officials. although the in
terviews given out are of an opti-
mistic tone. Not a few believe that
ii has come to showdown, and
that now is as good time as any.
Union officials are privately of the
same opinion.
.Start of Revolution"
The quarrel has now passed be-
yond the stage of personal or even
of wage grievances. Efforts are now
being concentrated on trying to find
out what forces are pulling the
strings.
1t Is openly charged that COM
munists and i. w. w. influences
have been unearthed and that
this is only the beginning of
the long heralded industrial
revolution. The rank and file
of the striking railroad men,
and these now include others
than the switchmen, know little
about the inside workings. but
a trip to the district around the
stockyards today revealed the
sentimen of the mass. This was
othe effect that the strike will
be repetition of the 1894 rail-
road strike, one of the most
riotous in the history of labor
disputes.
Said one swtchman:
"The guns will be I'm evidence
about Monday and IL will be no
picnic. The strikers will hre the
Arst shots, IL necessary, although
we are NOT particularly looking for
4 conflict Of dat sort. stiil, every
thing seems to he moving In that
direction"
So far there has been little or no
disorder. The men claim to be sure
OF their ground-and this in face of
the claim by railroad officials and
union men, that the back of the
movement is gradually being
broken.
The strike Is beginning to affect
outlying territory. At Gary. Ind.
twelve blast furnaces were banked
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWELVE. 4