The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-07
DEFIES THE union
Chicago Outlaw Strike Con-
tinues and Is Spreading.
More Workers Join WalkOut-
$4,000 Quit Today.
ENGINEERS join SWITChMEN
Refuse to Work With Strike
breakers Sent In.
National Brotherhood Lays
Down UItimatum to Rebels.
ENGINEERS JOIN SWITChMEN

Chicago, April Meat and food
prices will soar to higher values as
result of a strike of several thousand
switchmen on railroads here, packers
predicted today They say THAT live
stock receipts have been cut from
$4,000 head daily to less than 10000.
The receipts yesterday amounted to
5000 head as compared with $4,000
two weeks ago. The strike has thrown
10000 employees at the stockyards out
of work.
$500 More Walk Out
Representatives of $500 members of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
neers and Firemen employed in the
chicago switching district today had
defied their union officials and voted
to join the unauthorized switchmen's s
strike, called nearly a week ago.
Freight traffic thru the expansive
Chicago district already was restricted
seriously and strike leaders and rail-
road officials were agreed that if the
force of strikers was augmented, such
traffic would be brought virtually to
a standstill. The vote of the en-
gineers and firemen came in the face
of predictions of grand officers of
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
and the Switchmen's Union of North
America, with which the striking
switchmen are affiliated, that by Sat-
urday the strike would be broken by
loyal union men rushed here from
other cities.
Strike Is Spreading.
The engineers and firemen declared
they would not work with the loyal
union men and also demanded an in
creased wage. Engineers are paid
1915 day and they demanded $3.50
an hour; the firemen paid from $4.16
to $4.2S day, demanded 81 an hour.
De-
fered with the strikers said. Railroad
officials said, however. that such traf-
fic was certain to suffer in the event
work in the yards was restricted fur
ther. Meanwhile it was reported sup
plies of certain foods and fuel were
beginning to run low in Chicago and
nearly 10000 employees had been
thrown out of work at the stock yards
by the stoppage- ofsreeeipts of catefe.e-
1t was stated that unless receipt of
livestock was resumed shortly. approx
imately $4,000 men would be made
idle. The pens at the stock yards vir-
tually were empty yesterday. The
switchmeu continued their strike un-
der an ultimatum from the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen that they
unless they return to work by tomor-
low night. They also would lose their
seniority standings with the railroads.
Union Sends U1timatum.
The brotherhood's ultimatum was
signed by twenty-three brotherhood
officials, embracing twenty chairmen
of general committees of affected rail-
roads and three vice presidents. The
ultimatum sets forth the walkout had
it's origin in the personal grievance of
John Grunau, leader of the ''insur-
gents against the Chicago, Milwaukee
& ST. Paul railroad, the first common
carrier affected.
W. G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood, ISSUED statement at Cleveland
yesterday characterizing the strikers as
'regenades" and sanctioning any
measures found necessary by union
regulars to restore normal condi-
! tions The strikers claimed early to-
day that 900 men already were out
in the district and that by night 25,-
900 would be on strike. Railroad Of
ficials, while not denying the serious
ness of the situation said about 2,500
switchmen and yardmen were out
Office clerks and superintendent
Joined the union strike breakers in
! the yards yesterday
/ William L. Bond, treasurer of the
Switchmen's union. said 19 trunk lines
| and five belt lines were "paralyzed
! by the strike. Eighteen railroads
were affected to some extent, officials
admitted. Switchmen strike leaders
early today said delegations had been
| sent to Milwaukee, Kansas City and
cities N aoII friL