Evening star., 1920-06-24
EMBARGO FOLLOWS
STRIKE Of MEN At
POTOMAC YARDS
Unexpected and Unauthor-
led WaIkout X Some
Freight Handled Today.

"RepOrts placed before me show
transportation situation hourly
growing more difficult and . am
wondering whether IL would not
ne possible for your board TO nm
nOunce n decision with reference to
the pending wage matter. At Ieast
wouid IL not be possible for your
board, IL IL has reached no final
conclusions relative to these vital
matters. tentatively to agree upon
a settlement or even a partial set
tIement.'
The Presidents telegram wns
| made public after w. l.. McMenf-
men. deputy president OF the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen,
| had called at the White House. Mr..
MrMenimen snid TINT assurance of
the Presidents efforts to expedite
the award. i'm view of reports from
Chicago that no message had been
received. would have a most help
full effect.
Temporary embargoes were declared
today on all freight which must be
handled through the Potomac yards.
Washington's main gateway" to the
south. The embargoes will remain in
effect until the yardmen's strike.
which went into effect last night, 10
ended
/ Varying figures concerning the men
who reported for work with the day
! shift at o'clock this morning place
the total at twenty. out of an esti-
mated normal force of sixty. The
yards. though some freight is being
handled, are reported practically Grip
pied.
! The strike did not spread to any
other local yards. and all men were
reported working at the lexington
yards Pennsylvania yards and the
Washington terminal
Conferences are under way today
between II. NJ. Cousins, general chair
| man of the Richmond. FREDERICK
and Potomac Trainmen's Union, and
C. w. Culp. superintendent of tram
portation of that railway. They m6t
in the office of the superintendent
Robert Colvin-of Potomac yards
early this morning and remained
! closeted with him until afternoon.
conferees were unwilling to state
what, was taking place. r
Strike Unauthorized
The strike was unauthorized. and
as far as could be learned, took place
| spontaneously. The force which re-
ported at o'clock yesterday after
noon left as a body shortly after 10
O'Clock last night. The midnight
force failed to report The men who
reported for work with the day shift
at o'clock this morning were able
to get rid of all perishable freight
bound through Washington for other
cities.
The strike last night was Joined by
mechanics, and the total number who
failed to report at midnight was es
timated at 200.
The force there at present, it was
stated today, would be able to handle
the situation as it now stands com
fortably. and their duties will consist
in putting through trains over the
tracks and attending to shipments
consigned to local merchants. while
embargoes will Offset any congestion.
L. V. King. chairman of the Wash
ington terminal committee, reported
there were no cars loaded with per-
ishable goods left in the yards at noon
today. Washington shipments are be-
ing handled successfully. The en-
bargoes. which went into effect this
morning. will keep the yards clear OF
congestion. and probably will not
effect Washington shipments
Encouraging Reports.
w " Doak. vice president of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
was called from bed after midnight
and put in touch with the situation
He got in communication with Mr..
| Cousins who was on his way to Rich
mond. and the latter hurried back TO
| Washington to take charge or the
local trouble.
Reports from labor leaders to the
office of Mr.. Doak today We're en-
/ couraging and to the effect that the
strike was sporadic and would not
last long. His assistants were BUS!
today interviewing the strikers anu
urging their return TO work
Until O'Clock this afternoon notn-
ing definite can be known of the sue
cess of their efforts. AT that hour
the shift which started the walkout
"A, III
men refuse to come back the strihe
will assume more serious aspects.
Mr.. Doak said today no orders were
issued for the walkout, and 1t seemed
to be spontaneous movement on
the mart of the men to take "vaca-
tiop The movement is explained
Inv the generally impatient attitude
of men on all railways over the ue
Law in granting their wage denianus.
Interviews with number OF the
,,,, Who went on strike showed
determined stand on their part not 20
return to work until their demands
for higher wages are granted ne
nan however listen TO the words or
their leaders generally. II rs stated,
and their view of the matter canhot
a. .ai-en foo seriously The leaders
and officials of the unions are against
any walkout-
Eject ON Washington.
The effect on Washington of the
strike in Potomac yards Will not De
serious in the view of Mr.. KING, VINO
has been handling the work or the
Interstate Commerce Commission IN
routing and rerouting cars through
the local yards. Shipments for TINS
CITY will be allowed to come through
TO their points of unloading. Through
trains. bearing perishable goods, VIII
he expedited in their movements, and
so long as few men can be kept at
work in Potomac yards the trans-
Dortation will be kept moving.
The embargoes in effect at balti-
more and Philadelphia are holding up
many commodities bound for wash
ington, although food has not yet
been affected by them.
Importance of the Yards.
Railroads passing through the yards
are the Southern. the Washington,
Fredericksburg and Potomac. the
Chesapeake and Ohio. the Baltimore
and Ohio the Atlantic Coast Line and
the Seahoard Air Line. The effect OF
"A tie-up There Is national in scope.
and if the embargoes continue in ef-
feet through failure on the part OF
the workers to return there is little
doubt that the effect will be at once
serious. Approximately l per cent of
the total of 1000 ears handled daily
at the yards are bound for Washing
ton. If these cars are. held up at
points south, and such an emergency
exists, movement of the freight to
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