The Washington times., 1920-04-09


swaylng IL against the advice OF lead
srA 10 wait until the labor board. yet
to be named by the President. has had
q chance 20 act on wage demands
and the railroads unions have the
financial strength to carry on . gem
ersl strike.
Wsr.ed Against strike.
All the shop cra.ts-the switchmen,
| the brotherhood OF Railroad Clerks
and the railroad telegrsphers-will
| send delegates TO the convention Win
full power to act.
| unerous warnings have been sent
members Of these organizations TO be
on guard against stool pigeons" and
| strike rumors.
"Don't start anything you cannot
finish before the Kansas City conven-
| tion." Is the latest warning issued.
IL IL signed by b. NJ Jewell, acting
president OF the railway employer
department and Secretary John M.
Scott.
Don't encourage any rumors OF
| any kind tending to a change or
working conditions, as there Is no
doubt much effort Is being put forth
by designing officials to test senti-
ment regarding return to piece
work and bonus basis, and stool
pigeons will be used 10 start the
| Issue"
Playing Into RosdS' Hands.
To authorize a strike now, accord
| Ing TO the leaders would be playing
| into the hands of the railroads com
panies. They look upon the action or
the carriers In calling OFF the BIZ
partisan wage board conference as
| deliberate step to force the unions
into strike actions before they were
prepared TO make such move.
The railway labor leaders VIII be
placed in a peculiar position IL the
| unauthorized walkouts continue. Ac-
cording to the laws OF the unions,
members taking part In unauthorized
| strikes are liable to expulsion. Ac-
cording to labor leaders here. off,
| Gals Of the unions either Will be
| forced to sanction the strike started
| by a trump" organization or stand In
| LANCER OF losing a large part Of their
membership.
The executive board OF the railway
Employees department of tho fedora
| ton is now comforting in Kansas City.
| II will draw up q tentative program
| If action to submit to the conven-
ton opening next Monday.
II. NJ. Jewell, acting president. and
the leaders, In addressing the
invention. will urge political action
instead OF strike until gil the forces
| and resources OF the new railway
union OF alliance are thoroughly or
ganized for offensive action. The
tactics adopted by the convention
| will decide the future course OF all
he 100000 organized railroad
| workers.
AZ the Railroad Administration II
vas officially denied that there Is
ny foundation to reports that the
Governments Is contemplating taking
,ver the railroads as means Of cop
ng with the strike.
/ At the White House II was plainly
i vident that there Is full realization
/ 4 the gravity Of the situation, but
/ was stated that the President plans
/ o action now further than the ap-
/ ointment Of the railroad wage adj
/ iustment board.
L NEW YORK, April s.-Switchmen
/ n some yards of the New York Cen
Il raj and New Haven railroads Joined
he outlaw" strike among railroad
/ vorkers today, extending the move
Il nent to include all of New York's
Il principal traffic arteries.
4 The freight yards at Jersey City
1 vere closed completely this morning
Is usual. The other roads affected
4 vere the Erie, Lackawanna, Pennsyl-
vania, and West Shore.
II The men did not go out in large
numbers, but officials are fearful that
/ he movement will spread rapidly
J .ere, as it did in other cities.
| +. L. Crowley. operating vice presi-
| lent of the New York Central. reach
ed here early today from Buffalo to
lake personal charge OF the situa
| ton, SO serious was the outlook. His
| irst efforts were directed to bring
ing road crews. who remained Loyal
10 the brotherhood. into the New
York yards to move perishable freight
| ind live stock.
| Threatens brotherhood.
The strike in Manhattan started
Just aftec the men had gone to work
this morning. Gangs of strikers
roamed through the yards calling to
the workers to Join them. Before Of
! 'icials learned Of the roundup. the
| ards were practically deserted.
! Grand President l.. f. Sheppard. OF
! he Brotherhood OF Railway Conduc-
| ors. in a telegram to union officials,
| declared the exist ence of the brother.
| rood is threatened by the Illegal
! strike. He advised the men to re-
4 turn to work and says the railroads
are justified in using rpad men to
move freight piling up in the yards,
| The strike has not yet affected pas
| senger traffic or mail trains,
| Rumors of a strike in the Hudson
! tubes, which would maroon thousands
! of commuters on Manhattan island.
/ became current while brotherhood
| tralnmen and tube workers were
holding a meeting in Jersey City this
morning. Reporters were barred
! from the meeting. but It was said the
workers were advising complete
| tie-up Of all railroad lines.