Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-17
MORRISON DENIES
/. STRIKERS ARE REDS
Declares Governments Allega-
ton of Radical Influence
Is Stupidity.
SCOUTS PALMER'S CHARGE
Walkout Not Revolutionary,
Merely Demand on En-
ploycrs for More Pay.
SCOUTS PALMER'S CHARGE

w 4 II NC ton. April l6.-At-
torney- General Palmcr's conclusions
that the OUTLAW" railway strike was
traceable to activities of radicals and
rcvolutioniSts. WAS sharply chal-
icnSed tonight in Il statement Issued
by FRANK Morrison. secretary Of the
American Federation of Labor. An
independent investigation of strike
causcs by the railway executives, the
statement said. revealed Just IL
plain, ordinary strike for more pay"
III there were enough revolution
airy power in the United States to
create such an outbreak as this"
Air. Morrison said, the condition
would be serious indeed. But there
Is no such power. The absolute fail
ure of the Attorney General to grasp
the true situation is amazing"
The Department of Justice had no
additional announcements TO make
tonight to support it's conclusions.
The only development OF the day uf-
fcctins the governments connection
with the strike situation was the
organization meeting OF the railway
labor board. which met with seven of
4
tcers ana determined 10 take up, be-
ginning tomorrow, the whole Qucs-
tion OF railway wages at the point
where the bipartisan discussion be-
tween men and employers dropped
some days ago. unable TO reach q
conclusion.
Quote, Report of Investigators.
While tactics of the rail strikers
were wrong and disavowed by or
Ganized labor, MIR. Morrison's state
ment said, this should not prevent
an an honest. Understanding, :, ofcs the
facts. His own viewpoint as to
causes OF the strike. he added. was
based on reports gathered by en-
pioyers' representatives not in
sympathy with the strikers.
II point to these reports and the
evidence they contain as an evidence
OF governmental stupidity in dealing
with the situation" Mr.. Morrison
continued. While the government,
through the Attorney-General is
contemplating repression and punish
mcnt. treating the strike as a crime.
the real employers know that the
strike is an outbreak against eco
nomic conditions.
After reading the digest Of these
reports. the conclusion is inevitable
that whatever the merits of the
strike, ii is chiefly just plain,
ordinary strike for more pay"
New York and New England in
vestiSators reported they had found
strike sentiment strongest among
the intelligent and conservative
men," Mr.. Morrison sa;o. Many OF
the strikers have served for long
periods on one railroad, he said, and
never before were known as aGita-
tors. Other observers found mo
virus OF d;sloyalty or revolution in
the ranks Of the Sisaffectcd work
crs except the usual evidence OF cx-
tremists, who are riding" the strike
AS sometimes happens TO be the
case"
ltond Heads Understnnd situation.
Mr.. Morrison declared the railroad
executives were fully informed" as
to the character Of the strike, and
they know that the outbreak Is
under no revolutionary direction"
According to data gathered by
the employers from their represen-
,ativcs In close touch with the strik-
ers throughout the country" the
statement added. the yardm en,s
walkout is not or revolutionary
character or origin. The ffteen men
who made the report on which this
conclusion Is based are in close daily
touch with these men. and are in
their CONFIDENCE