New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-10

renegade union. l believe the men
will go back to work"
Grand President L. f. Sheppard. Of
the Order Of Railway Conductors, sent
the following telegram to NJ. c. Flat
terry. chairman of the general adjust
ment committee of the order:
"The existence of the order is
threatened by an illegal strike. Every
member working in the yards should
remain at work. Roadmen would he
| justified in going in yards under tAe
circumstances"
Yesterday afternoon and last night
Welch and other officers of the broth
crhood organization fought tooth and
nail in the effort to persuade the grow
ing mass of recalcitrants to return to
their work. Chairmen of the griev-
arce committees of the various roads
who attempted to address the meetings
! held in Jersey City were refused d
hearing and apparently little progress
was made.
Strike leaders said that 5000 yard
employees, working in Buffalo and on
the Niagara frontier, have been en-
rolled in the new association, and
/ that it is expected at least 1000 moro
will Join.
Roads May Import Men
Yardmasters yesterday protested
against being required to do the work
of switchmen and some Of them left
their jobs after railroad officials had
told them that they would be ex-
pected to do any work to which they
were assigned.
If the efforts of brotherhood leaders
fail to break the strike the railroads
will attempt to import their own men
n Hn tho Irork ind
statement by A. J. Whitney, general
superintendent of the Pennsylvania
There were rumors that the roads were
preparing to house strike breakers in
the yards, but officials refused to dis
cuss the reports.
The New York Central and Lehigh
Valley roads reported tonight that
the day than on Thursday. Other
roads reported falling off in the
amount Of business handled.
At Syracuse last night New York
Central officials claimed that the COM
pany's freight yards were operating
normally. The yards of the Delaware,
Lackawana Western were tied up
with between 800 and 900 cars of
freight, some of it perishable food
was called out to help move passenger
traffic. Syracuse estimates it's food
and fuel supply on hand as Sufficient
for only forty eight hours.
The New York Central and Erie
roads announced freight embargo at
Niagara Falls, but some shipments
were accepted by the Lehigh Valley.
recognize Populations from the rewly
formed yardmen's association. The
men we're told that if they returned
to their old jobs the roads would con-
sider, any grievances, but that no de-
mands coming from the outlaw organ-
cation would be considered.
Will Try to Unite Strikers
Workers involved in the strike ex-
planned yesterday that the walk-out
marks a revolt against what they
called the dilatory tactics of the lead
ers Of the Brotherhood Of Railway
Trainmen and Switchmen's Union of
North America. Strikers asserted the
movement will soon embrace switch
men and switch tenders all over the
country who are ready to secede from
the regular organizations and join the
newly formed Yardmen's Association
II was explained that no effort is be-
ing made at present to unite the Sc
ceding elements into one organization
but that such an effort will be made as
soon as the strikers win their demands.
The original demands Of the switch
men included 81 an hour for yard fore
men, IS cents for helpers, SIS day for
taking care of three switches, time and
a half for overtime, Sundays and holt
days, and double time for all work over
eight hours on Sundays and holidays.
The present rate of wages is 62k cents
for switchmen, 66 2-3 for switch con-
ductors and SO cents for switch tenders
Saw Walk-Out Is Legal
The trouble among the switchmen
and tenders began when the railways
were still under Federal control. The
men contend that they were promised
increases as soon as their demands
were investigated by Director General
Hires. With the return Of the roads
to private ownership the mems con-
tracts with the government were au
tomatcally abrogated, and the switch
out is legal in view Of their inability
to reach an agreement with the e.
spective companies.
Strikers yesterday ridiculcd the
charges made by w. G. Lee, president
Of the Brothe rhood of Railway Train
men, and other brotherhood leaders
that the strike is renegade, outlaw,
rebel and insurgent: The men main
tain that they now belong to an indie
pendent organization in no way afiii
ated with the regular internationals.
The outbreak, strikers declared, in
volved at the present 10000 of the
/ 200 900 members of the brotherhood
of Trainmen and $4,000 members Of
/ the Switchmen's Union. The movement
is led by John Grunau. of Chicago,
where it has its main center in the
Chicago Yardmen's Association. The
latter was formed in January of this
year by switchmen dissatisfied with
the policy of the regular leaders. At
firemen have organized an Independent
National Enginemen's Association
Persons close 70 the movement de-